How to Break A Cell Phone Addiction

Many people consider cell phones and other electronic communication devices necessary for life in our world today. But do we really need to use them so often? Is this obsession with texting, emailing, and talking on the cell phone good for us and our society? If you or someone you know is suffering from a cell phone addiction, here are a few suggestions for breaking the cell phone habit.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Look at your cell phone bills. How much are you talking, texting, and emailing? Regardless of the dollar amount you pay, look at how many minutes a day you spend on the cell phone, and how many text messages you send. Once you see the actual usage numbers, you will be shocked at how much of your life this little device can gobble up.

2. Read through your text messages. Are they just a bunch of “yeah, ok, cool” comments, or are you exchanging important information?

3. Pay attention to who is around you when you are using your cell phone. Do your children only see you with a phone stuck to the side of your head? Are you ignoring friends and family standing right in front of you because you would rather be talking or texting to someone else?

4. Avoid taking your cell phone into public places. Leave it in the car. Do you really need to be on a call when you are scanning your items at the self-checkout at WalMart? Is it really necessary for you to be on your phone when you are in a restaurant with friends and the server is trying to take your order? Do you really need to talk on your phone when you are on the treadmill at the gym? Newsflash: You aren’t important as you think you are! Anyone can take 30 minutes to an hour to shop, exercise, get their hair cut, or eat a meal. Even the most important people in the world have voice mail. Let the caller leave a message and get back to them later.

5. Be considerate of other people out in public. Cell phone addicts are the rudest people on the planet! Their conversations boom over regular voices – for some reason, cell phone addicts have to talk louder on their phone than they would to a person standing next to them. Guess what? Other people don’t want to hear your conversations. You may be a nuisance to others and you are intruding on their personal space and their right NOT to listen to your conversation. Are you shopping or making a phone call? Because you can’t do both effectively and you are inconveniencing other people by trying to push your cart, shop, and have your conversation. Move to the side and let other people pass or just call the person back later when you are finished in the store.

6. Focus your attention on the physical person in front of you, whether it is a cashier, a waiter, your doctor, your hairdresser, the bank teller, or your child. Keep your personal business in the car or step outside to make your call. Nobody wants to hear it – cell phone addicts have become a public menace and the rest of us have a right to some peace. People don’t want to hear your personal business being shouted next to them.

7. Schedule and limit your cell phone usage. Set aside certain times of the day when you can catch up on your voice mails, answer text messages, or make calls. Just because technology allows you to communicate 24 hours a day, doesn’t mean you have to be available 24 hours a day and constantly be on your phone. Set a schedule and stick to it.

8. Technology is intended to enhance your life, not control it. When an electronic device (computer, video game, or cell phone) becomes more important than your personal relationships and dominates your focus and energy, you have a problem. If you can’t break the habit on your own, consider seeing a psychologist. There may be underlying reasons why you are obsessed with using your cell phone.

[Sumia]

on 12/6/2008 Great advice. We have to rule the cell phone not the other way around!

[StarrySkye]

on 12/3/2008 Great article...though I have never really had this problem, I'm sure it will help many people! Thanks