Smartphone addiction is a real problem that affect our health and most of us underestimate it. There was a time when only smoking and drinking were considered as addiction. As technology progressed a new type of addiction spread its legs into the human society. That addiction was addiction of electronic equipment. Kids get addicted to electronic games, adults to their smartphone.
Mobile phones were a handy way of communication but as they evolved into smartphones, they became much ore than a mode of communication. It became a camera, a radio, a gaming device, a video player and a social networking device with access to complete internet. It made things a lot easier and handy. Smartphones became one of the best friends of some people, even those who feel shy of talking. But the problem is not with the friendship with phone, the problem is with the over usage.
Most of the smartphone addicts will never confess it that they are addicted to it as they really don't know it. They believe that whatever they are doing with their smartphone is necessary for them to do.
Mobile phones were a handy way of communication but as they evolved into smartphones, they became much ore than a mode of communication. It became a camera, a radio, a gaming device, a video player and a social networking device with access to complete internet. It made things a lot easier and handy. Smartphones became one of the best friends of some people, even those who feel shy of talking. But the problem is not with the friendship with phone, the problem is with the over usage.
Most of the smartphone addicts will never confess it that they are addicted to it as they really don't know it. They believe that whatever they are doing with their smartphone is necessary for them to do.
How does Smartphone addiction affect your health ?
- Smartphone addiction decreases your concentration level on other tasks. Most common of such tasks are studying. It results in bad grades in schools and more accidents on roads.
- Most of the accidents on roads happen due to usage of phone while driving. It is not only risky for you but also for others on road.
- Smartphone addict people spend more time watching their phone screen, which damages their sight and they require glasses at an early age.
- Smartphone addict people interact less with other people in real life. Your health is not just your body but also your social life (Social life and social networking are totally different).
- Smartphone addicts watch lesser News / Current Events / Science TV Channels and hence have lesser general knowledge.
- Smartphones also disturb the night life of couples. Even if any one of them is addict then they get lesser time to get intimate, which is a major necessity of good married life.
- Smartphone addicts give less importance to other necessary tasks such as a kid's school function, doing worship, having dinner together and many more. It disconnects them not only from society but also from their own family.
Smartphone Addiction Test
The answer to following question will help you in understanding if you are an addict or not. If your answer is yes to any of these questions then you are going towards addiction.- Do you check your phone for messages/chats/facebook every night before sleeping ?
- Do you send jokes to your friends on smartphone even when they are sitting with you in the same room ?
- Do you start feeling uncomfortable if you smartphone battery gets exhausted ?
- Do you check your phone every hour while you are awake ?
- Do you check you phone even while getting intimate with your partner ?
- Do you take calls while having a shower ?
- Do you check your phone on a dinner date ?
- Do you check your phone in a movie theater ?
Draw a line between healthy usage and addiction
However it is hard to draw a line for an addict but you must do it if you feel that you are going towards addiction. Here are some ways to draw a line.
- Don't use your phone after a certain time in night. You may decide an appropriate time yourself, so that you can get a proper good night sleep.
- Attend the calls only when it is appropriate to take calls. Not taking a call or not checking your phone in bathroom, during a school program of your kid, while driving ,or in a movie theater won't make much difference but it will save you from addiction, accidents and embarrassment.
- try to avoid using your smartphone when you are in company of your family, friends or relatives. Real life family and friends are more important rather than thousands of friends on facebook.
- Don't check your phone after every few minutes for some notifications. It won't hurt if you don't check some notification for a while. It is better to mute your notifications tone and just keep ON the ringtone to attend calls.
A number of institutions like schools in US are using Yondr, a small gray pouch that swallow phones and lock them until you get them unlocked before leaving that institution. It not only helps you in concentrating on your work or study, but also saves you from being an addict. Such practices should be followed all over the world.
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