Sit straight, you banana-shaped human!

I’ve been researching the perils of excessive phone usage (yes, the perils beyond text neck and ruined postures), and out of curiosity, I checked my screen time. It was around 4-5 hours daily - which is a lot, considering I’m not even on IG! So, I pushed myself to limit my screen time to less than 2 hours daily (did this for a week - extending it for a month - 2 hours is still a considerable time but I am not a monk yet :P), because life is meant to be lived beyond the screen.

𝟭. 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - We often endlessly scroll through apps, overwhelmed by choices and constantly wondering what we need - at least I did. I spent significant time scrolling through shopping apps, particularly while ordering groceries - a frequent event. I found myself comparing prices and deliberating over options, which led to decision fatigue and impulsive purchases of items I didn’t need. However, by limiting my screen time, I started making a list of exactly what I needed, quickly adding items, and logging off. Result? I saved both time and MONEY.
𝟮. 𝗡𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗺-𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 - We’ve all been guilty of unlocking our phones to take breaks, only to realise it has been 30 minutes of app-hopping. It has become second nature. But with my screen time capped, I became more mindful of how and where I spent my time.
𝟯. 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 - This one’s a no-brainer. I stopped using my phone 30 minutes before bed and woke up feeling refreshed every day!
𝟰. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 - Obvious, right?
𝟱. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 - Since my brain is used to short-form content, it’s tough to concentrate on longer articles or meaningful reads. But, slow and steady wins the race, right? 😀

Besides these benefits, why is staying away from phones (and social media) important? Social media is a drug we can't seem to get rid of. We’re constantly chasing the validation that the "like" button gives us while consuming a flood of information - both good and bad - that affects our mental health.

So, give yourself a break - a social media break occasionally. Trust me, your mind will thank you. :)