It is time to reconnect with life and disconnect from your phone!

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

We all know that person (it might be you) lying in bed, scrolling through social media, your face illuminated by the blue light of your phone. Walking through the park, eyes glued to your phone, jumping out the way narrowly avoiding bumping into a jogger, and all the while children are playing in the background, and people chat on benches.

Then there are the people you see sitting with their friend, who is  talking animatedly, but the friend is distracted by her/his phone. How many times have you been in bed, scrolling through your phone, and when you look up, the clock reads 3:45 AM. You know you have to get up in a few hours, and you are exhausted, but can’t stop scrolling.

Studies show more than half of Americans (56.9%) said that they are addicted to their cell phone. Reports continue to show that this addiction has lasting impacts ranging from: eroding social interactions, depression, and digital detox anxiety.

In a report titled, “Smartphone and social media addiction: Exploring the perceptions and experiences of Canadian teenagers” (Michael Adorjan, University of Calgary/Rosemary Ricciardelli, Memorial University of Newfoundland), researchers have identified negative outcomes, including: decreased mental health, resulting from anxieties related not to technology per se, but a fear of missing out and social connectivity related to online technologies.

They found that ‘kids today’ are addicted to their devices, especially smartphones. 35 focus group discussions with 115 Canadian teenagers (aged 13-19 years old) revealed that peer groups socially compel addictive behaviours, including the fear of missing out.

At the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, we are dedicated to highlighting solutions, not just the issues plaguing our society. We believe in the power of positive change and the importance of sharing stories that highlihgt the issues, and then inspire and empower our readers to make changes in their lives that address these issues. By focusing on innovative ideas, successful initiatives, and the individuals and communities making a difference, we continue to provide a balanced perspective that encourages action. Our mission is to: inform and uplift, showcasing the ways in which we can all contribute to building a better, more resilient world. This week, we are highlighting the issue surrounding phone addiction, and we want our readers to pay close attention.

When many of us think of addiction, we think of these strung out individuals that are perpetrated in the movies that we watch, or on shows like “Intervention.” Well, I don’t know if you have seen a parent take the phone or tablet away from a child, or the look on someone’s face when they realized that they have left their phone at home; PANIC!

It is like we can’t help it; we need to have it. We need to know what is happening all the time, ignoring the fact that life is happening right in front of you. Read the intro to this article again; if any of those scenarios sounds like your life, you might just have a phone addiction, and you might be due for a dopamine detox.

What is a dopamine detox?

A dopamine detox, also known as a dopamine fast, aims to reduce overstimulation from activities that provide quick but unsustainable dopamine hits, helping to reset your brain’s reward system. Here are some signs that you might benefit from a dopamine detox:

• You find it increasingly difficult to concentrate on tasks, particularly those that require sustained attention
• You feel unmotivated, or have a lack of interest in activities that you previously enjoyed
• You frequently seek instant gratification through activities like: social media, video games, or junk food
• Ordinary activities that used to bring you joy no longer do
• You regularly delay important tasks in favour of more immediately rewarding ones
• You feeling: restless, anxious, or experiencing mood swings, especially when not engaged in stimulating activities
• You have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep, often due to late-night use of stimulating devices
• You use: entertainment, food, or other stimuli to escape from reality, or avoid dealing with stress and problems
• You find it hard to enjoy simple, everyday activities that don’t provide an intense dopamine rush
• You excessively use: smartphones, computers, and other technology for entertainment purposes, often to the detriment of real-world interactions and experiences

A dopamine detox involves taking a break from these stimulating activities to help recalibrate your brain’s reward system, allowing you to find balance and enhance your overall well-being.

While some people are migrating to screen-free phones, others are using motivation and rewards to build healthier habits with their phones.

BePresent, founded by self-admitted phone addicts and brothers Jack and Charles Winston, uses behavior science to help individuals reduce their screen time. Instead of dopamine hits for likes, they reward users with dopamine hits for staying off their devices! Utilizing BePresent:

• Allows you to earn real-life rewards
• Controls your screen time and blocks distracting apps
• Makes it fun and easy
• You earn points and badges, complete quests, and climb the leaderboard
• Users decrease their screen time by over 50% with BePresent (that’s over 15+ years of your life back on average!)

It is time to reconnect with life, and disconnect from your phone!