Seven ways to control screen time and improve well-being

Electronic devices are obviously important to us, but overusing them can have a negative impact on our mental health. That’s why it’s important to moderate screen time.

Half of the adult population in the UK are said to stare at screens for a combined total of 11 hours or more each day, with 59% saying screen time has a negative impact on their mental health. Below are seven tips from Ebuyer experts to reduce screen time and improve well-being.

Keep track of your screen time

If you felt a stab of shame when the notification is sent along with your screen usage, it might be a good idea to start tracking how much time you spend on your devices. By doing so, you can see which apps or devices are exceeding a healthy limit and be more aware of usage reduction over time.

Take back control of your screen time by limiting the time you spend in front of the screen for anything other than work or school, and replace unnecessary use with screen-free activities, like going out for a walk or hike.

Use useful phone features

When it comes to mobile screen time, iOS and Android have a series of apps that have more features and settings than the built-in ones. From apps that track how long you’re “in the moment” of your daily life, to apps that offer virtual reward systems.

For example, Moment gives you daily coaching on simple habit tweaks to improve your day-to-day wellbeing, while Freedom lets you create blocklists and schedule time away from distracting apps. Digital detox doesn’t have to be difficult!

keep moving

Often, if you work from home, the lack of morning commutes to work or lunchtime strolls to a local coffee shop can really interfere with your daily exercise. Therefore, it is essential to plan times of the day when you can move, whether it is a midday yoga break or a morning walk before heading to the office.

Always be sure to take regular hourly breaks away from your devices, whether that’s to make a coffee or spend some time in the fresh air. It can really help to recharge and motivate throughout the day.

Don’t eat in front of your screen

It’s all too easy to eat lunch with a side of checking your email or scrolling through TikTok content. Even when the workday is over, many of us find ourselves settling down to eat while we watch the latest Netflix series or fuel a gaming session.

Designating eating at the table encourages us to spend time away from our devices and increases the quality time we spend with our friends and family. For that extra bit of motivation, maybe invest in some new crockery or crockery.

Reduce your screen time before bed

Studies have shown that harsh glare from electronic screens can interfere with our sleep. ¹So setting a time before bedtime to be a strictly screen-free zone can really improve sleep quality.

In the evening, to confirm that the night has begun, keep the lights dimmed and your screen time reduced. Perhaps you can replace the time spent browsing social media by immersing yourself in a captivating novel or journaling.

Switch to grayscale

iOS and Android allow you to make your phone screen gray. So why is it effective in curving your screen time levels? Without all the bright colors, your devices can start to lose their visual appeal. For iPhone users, go to Settings. Next, select Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters. And, finally, activate the switch so that the Grayscale option appears.

Android users can do this by opening the Control Panels and accessing Digital Wellbeing. Choose Wind Down and you can enable grayscale now or schedule it for a later date.

Schedule face-to-face meetings

During the pandemic, it has become too easy to simply call someone via Zoom or Teams. But, with the lockdown restrictions eased, there’s no longer an excuse to get out and interact with friends, family and colleagues. If you can afford it, maybe you can schedule that important meeting face-to-face, or if you want to meet a friend, arrange to meet them at a local coffee shop.

Commenting on the advice, Andy Roberts, eCommerce Director at Ebuyer, said: “As the new normal has shifted to a world where digital communication is at the forefront, it has become too easy to spend a considerable number of hours on our electronic devices.

“While our devices are essential to keeping us connected, limiting unnecessary screen time can be great for physical and mental health. We hope our tips will help people find a good balance between the time they spend on and out of their devices.”

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