How to Minimize Mindless Phone Usage

This is probably going to sound crazy coming from someone who writes a blog, but I don’t particularly enjoy technology. I am basically technologically illiterate. I know enough to get by, but don’t expect me to do anything fancy. My deepest desire is to get rid of my smartphone.

The problem is, I use it a lot. I am currently writing this post on it. I require Google Maps to get me to places I have never been. If I make my grocery list on a piece of paper, there is a 74% chance I will forget it at home. Quite frankly, I would forget my head on my pillow without my calendar sending me reminders to attach it in the morning.

Aside from the “needs” there are things that having a phone is convenient for. It is nice not to have to travel with a separate book, but to be able to download one. It is nice to have a means of taking pictures. It is nice to be able to easily work while feeding a baby.

Because of these things, I keep my smartphone, and probably always will. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to spend as little time as possible on it. When I first got a smartphone in high school, I found myself spending way too much time on it, and I didn’t like it. Therefore, I took steps to make my phone as boring as possible, so when I pick it up looking for something to do, I am very quickly disappointed and put it down.

The goal is not to completely rid ourselves of everything, but to rid ourselves of the mindless activities that are stealing our time and rotting our brains.

Social Media 

The first thing I did was never get on social media. By the time I was old enough to do so, it was already coming out how terrible it was, and I could see it in the people I went to school with. I once saw two people sitting next to each other on a couch, talking via Snapchat. I didn’t want to become that way and have therefore avoided it. The only reason I have Facebook is so I can watch the sermon recording when I am not in service.

I highly recommend that if you want to minimize phone usage to remove social media. Do what you need to do to purge your system of it. Delete accounts and passwords and block them from your browser. Back up any important photos and videos first. Then, when you are ready and feel you can, get back on.

Games

Games were the first thing to go. I would find myself mindlessly opening and playing Sudoku. Instead, I got books of puzzles that I can do. Same game, but much more intentional effort. For the military folks, the books also usually fit in the pocket of the working uniform.

So many phone games are said to boost IQ and help you live longer, but the studies often have poor controls and fall apart under scrutiny. Some companies have even been sued for their claims. (Read the full Harvard study here.)

What’s left?

After that, you need to evaluate your own personal phone usage to determine what mindless activity is sucking up your time. Get rid of it. At least make it harder to access. Not all things are bad, simply the excess. The News for example, might be good to keep you informed of the world events, but are you opening up the app simply because you are bored? Maybe delete the app and access it via a web browser? The extra step creates intentionality.

Setting a screen timer for either your whole phone or certain apps can force you to be more conscious about how you are using your time. I am a big fan of taking a whole screen-free day to reset my mind when I feel my usage is getting excessive. For Lent one year, I didn’t use technology for anything other than communication, and that was very helpful at the time.

Finding new ways to fill the newfound time is important. You need to replace old habits with new ones. Strike up a conversation when you are in the car. Topic cards are nice when you don’t know what to discuss. Instead of scrolling while you go to the bathroom, you can use that time to memorize scripture.

I hope this helps you to reevaluate your phone and determine where your time is going. If you have any helpful advice for minimizing mindless phone usage, please share in a comment below.