Our Phones Are Our Lives
In one way or another, we're all dedicated to our phones. It's the most important object in our lives as we use it to stay connected and informed, and manage our schedules and finances. Just because it's ingrained in our lives doesn't mean we shouldn't be aware of our addiction and work to lessen it. Here are 20 bad signs you're addicted to your phone.
1. Checking Your Phone Upon Waking Up
It's a bad sign if the first thing you do in the morning is check your phone. This is one of the first signs of addiction, and one way to curb it is to keep your phone far enough away that you'll have to get out of bed to check it.
2. Feeling Anxious Without Your Phone
We should be able to go thirty minutes without our phones, but that's rarely the case. If you always feel anxious without your phone, then there's a strong chance that you're addicted. This extends to feeling uneasy if your phone's battery is low.
3. Phantom Vibrations
Do you often feel or hear your phone buzzing only to check it to find that you haven't received a single notification? If so, you are experiencing phantom vibrations and are addicted to your phone and the hit of dopamine you get when you hear it vibrating.
4. Scrolling Aimlessly
We're all guilty of scrolling on social media just to kill time or because we feel like we might be missing out. This is a big waste of time and can reduce your attention span. It's also a surefire sign that you're addicted to your phone.
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5. Ignoring the Real World
If being on your phone is starting to hurt your relationships or your ability to connect with others, then your addiction has gone too far. If your phone is about connecting to people and society, then it should never result in you ignoring the real world.
6. Being Glued to Your Phone During Meals
Eating a meal while scrolling on your phone isn't great for digestion and often means you're ignoring the other people at the dinner table. Do yourself a favor and make every meal screen-free.
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7. Losing Track of Time
It's easy to lose an hour at work or with your family, because you're glued to your phone. This is a common side effect of being addicted to your phone, and the last thing you want is to let life go by while you're watching TikToks.
8. Obsessively Checking Notifications
It feels like our phones are buzzing all day, but the truth is that we don't get as many notifications as we think. If checking your phone for notifications is your compulsion, then you need to unplug before your addiction reaches a dangerous level.
9. Using Your Phone Before Bed
If the last thing you do before falling asleep is to scroll through a newsfeed, then you've got yourself a little problem. Make a rule that you don't look at your phone at least half an hour before bed. This can help you enjoy a more restful sleep.
10. Texting While Driving
Texting while driving is incredibly dangerous, but it's also a clear sign that you're addicted to your phone. You should be able to go through at least one red light without checking your phone. If not, you need to find a way to kick this habit before you have an accident.
11. Replying Immediately
Phone etiquette suggests that it's okay to let a little time pass before you reply to a message. However, if you feel the need to reply to every message immediately, then you need to spend some time away from your phone.
12. Using Your Phone as a Social Escape
Your phone should not be used to avoid social interactions. Using your phone in this way can lead to social anxiety and help you lose some of your social skills.
13. Neglecting Work for your Phone
If you spend too much time on your phone, you might miss important work deadlines. If this is the case, then your phone addiction has grown out of control.
14. Silence Makes You Restless
We should all enjoy a moment or two of silence every day. If silence of any kind makes you feel uneasy, then you might be too reliant on your phone for entertainment.
15. Using Your Phone as an Emotional Crutch
It's not uncommon to reach for your phone whenever you're stressed or sad. This could mean that you see your phone as an emotional crutch, and you might be using it to avoid dealing with your problems.
16. Checking Your Phone in the Middle of the Night
If you feel the need to check your phone if you wake up in the middle of the night, then your attachment to your device is officially unhealthy. Interrupting your sleep to check X or Facebook is the perfect way to feel groggy the next morning.
17. Ignoring Your Self-Care
Your self-care should come first. Prioritizing your phone over your well-being is evidence that you're addicted and could hurt your physical and mental health.
18. Constantly Refreshing Feeds
The compulsion to refresh your social media feeds or newsfeed for new posts means you need to take a break from your device. Social media updates fast, but not as fast as you want it to.
19. Losing Interest In Your Hobbies
Your phone addiction is dangerous if you used to love to exercise and play soccer, but now are unmotivated for any hobby, because it means you'll have less time to doomscroll on your phone.
20. Spending Money on Microtransactions
Phone addiction can also come in the form of playing mobile games too often. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you're spending money on these games, usually in the form of microtransactions, then you need to pull the plug.
