How to Achieve 25% More Free Time by Doing 1 Thing
The internet is full of advice on how to maximize your personal productivity and get more free time. With a wealth of information at our fingertips and zillions of articles about how to improve one’s lifestyle, the question is: why aren’t these tips helping?
The thing is; if you are like most people: short on time, short on patience, and already overwhelmed – that helpful 10 Step program might be just too much already!
How to Achieve 25% More Free Time by Doing One Thing
What if I can give you ONE Thing you can do to help manage your time, help you feel less distracted and focus better?
Limit how much time you spend on your smartphone.
Before you roll your eyes and say: “I’ve heard all that before” … THINK about it. If you don’t believe this will work for you: then YOU are the person that needs it the most. When you limit mobile device usage (except for necessary phone calls), social media, YouTube, random internet surfing and so forth to only THREE times a day for 15 minutes each time, I guarantee that you will be amazingly more productive.
How it Works
A few rare individuals have gone so far as to eliminate smartphone usage for 24 hours or more just to find out they had an actual life outside of their smart phone! What about that new hobby you haven’t found time for, that book you’ve been wanting to read for the last year, or maybe you can spend more time with your kids? ‘Disconnected’ families are linked to mobile device usage. Being in the same room as your child while on your phone doesn’t count as quality time.
Most avid smartphone users will achieve 25% more free time by doing one thing: limiting mobile device usage to twice or three times a day outside of phone calls. It’s a fact that only by disconnecting can you truly connect with yourself, those you love, and others around you.
Here’s the Facts:
Smartphones Are Addicting. Yes I said it: addicting. That dirty word is not just for drugs anymore. Other countries have recognized internet addiction as a genuine threat. There are literally tons of information out there about the subject: from the impacts of mobile devices on our social structure, parenting, and cultural implications. The picture that is painted is not pretty.
The culprit: Dopamine. A highly addictive substance produced by our own brains.
Texting & Driving
Why can’t people just STOP texting and driving?? As social creatures, we have a deep desire to be needed. When you hear that “Ping!” from your notifications – it sends a signal to the brain that Someone Wants You. That signal also creates the release of dopamine in your system and it is almost impossible to ignore the desire to check your phone. Even though 1.3 million auto accidents are texting-related, over 70% of young Americans still think they can confidently text and drive. Actually: you can’t.
TIP : Mute your phone while driving. Calls will come through on your Bluetooth if you must talk and drive.
Social Media Addiction
Can’t stop checking your phone? Social Media addiction is REAL. Sadly, 25% of iPhone users check their Twitter feed before getting up in the morning and the average American dedicates a quarter of their day at work to social media. Many smartphone users have reported a feeling of anxiety when they cannot check their social media feeds and almost panic when the phone battery begins to dwindle or they cannot get signal.
TIP: if you cannot discipline yourself to only check social media three times a day for 15 minutes or less – there are apps that can limit your usage for you.
markzfilter / Pixabay
The Emotional Impact
Smartphones have connections to some emotional disorders. Not everyone that uses a smartphone is destined for a straight-jacket. But there are connections between frequent use and depression, social anxiety, aversion to social interaction, and reality avoidance. Studies on young adults, in particular, have found that damaged self-esteem is commonly linked to frequent social media use.
TIP: In an on-going study – researchers found a 40% decline in empathy in college students over the past 20 years. This is scary news! Much of this frightening decline has been contributed to computer games and smartphone usage as it separates individuals from the repercussions of their actions.
A Disconnected Society
Let’s face it: the more ‘connected’ we are, the more disconnected we have become. By always feeling the pull of being ‘elsewhere’ through our mobile devices, we are hardly ever present. We are distracted by our smartphones whether we are driving, grocery shopping, at work, out with friends, with your family, or engaged in life events. The trend is that people don’t talk to one another anymore!
Human beings do not truly connect with one another unless it is IN PERSON. The internet can never replace the value of human interaction.
Honestly: it can wait. Be Present.
Life is too short and we aren’t gifted magically with more time when we get our first smartphone. If anything: it’s the biggest time-waster in the world. See how long it takes you to get off of Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter (or Pinterest). The next time you grab your phone for a ‘quick’ check, log your time. My average has been 20 minutes: multiply that by 8 times day and there is 2.5 hours gone … just like that.
The average person checks their phone for about 6.5 minutes 150 times a day (how is that even possible?!). Do the math! We only have about 16 waking hours in which to live life every day – make the most of it!
If you can’t commit to the 10-Step Productivity Program you read about … try this instead and achieve more free time by doing just ONE thing.
