Struggling with constant screen time? Do you find yourself always glued to a screen? It

won’t be exaggerating if I said it’s a generational problem now. With the internet services being the new fast and furious version of themselves, every little part of our life corresponds to a website/mobile application. Want to find basic information? Google. Want to be nosey about someone’s life? Instagram. Want get updates on your friend’s life? WhatsApp. And trust me I can go on and on. This surely is a never-ending cycle and maybe at this point our thoughts and digital spaces are probably intertwined together. It so seems now that having a balance in work-life is easier as compared to having a balance in screen and non-screen time.

We are also the same generation that is quick to critique to iPad kids (controversial opinion ahead) but are we any better considering the fact that we are full grown adults who are wholly and solely responsible for our habits. The early 2000’s generation is surely the most confusing one. Even though as kids our source of entertainment was purely television it clearly has evolved to every possible device in our early 20’s. It’s easier said than done considering the fact that our education, job profile, communications are highly dependent on technology. The main question is how do we find a balance in such scenarios? The answer is surely not one and even surely not same for everyone.

I kid you not I’ve read numerous articles on how to digital detox my life, but to absolute vain it just does not seem to work. The main reason that I have understood is that maybe those ways to digital detox our life is like skin care to many. Everyone’s experience is completely different depending on their solution, and your solution might have a recipe that is an ensemble of different methods and techniques. Having said that there might be few techniques which can generalized for most people.

Addictions are considered really serious and have rehabilitation centers for an individual to be able to resist and fight their addiction, but a mobile phone addiction is clearly not considered in the same category, leaving individuals to drown in self-loathing every time they slip-up after promising themselves less screen time.

So, this is the moment of truth guys! The APP TIMER ON YOUR PHONE WILL NOT HELP YOU REDUCE YOUR SCREEN TIME. There I said it, phew! That surely sounds like a good and the easiest way but as easy as it is to put that timer it is also equally easy to remove it. Conviction within one is very important in such cases and without conviction the timer is similar to a self-help book, it does not really work until you want it to work. To get that motivation the first step is to realize how harmful mindless scrolling and continuous screen time can be. For instance, the most basic harm is short span of concentration. Moreover eye-strain, fatigue, procrastination, headaches etc. can affect your lifestyle adversely. Productivity reduces as mindless scrolling increases. Overstimulation can be

a really huge issue which increase screen time as different levels of triggers, adrenaline, emotional content is fed to us side by side.

The next main part is to find activities that genuinely interest you which should not be one in which you sit through hours staring at a screen. To begin with the most basic solution might be dedicating at least an hour a day to an outdoor activity. Walking, running, playing a sport or even gym can help you be occupied without the need to stare at a screen. After establishing a schedule that includes a no-screen activity the next step should be you taking accountability and making up your mind to be intentional in whatever content that you consume. When healthy boundaries are established there’s less chance of a slip-up.

This may not sound like it, but I genuinely am not trying to shift you from “Netflix and chill” to “Doordarshan and depression” my only intent is to make you more aware about your life choices and have a better hold on yourself. I strongly believe that having a balance has become a necessity and a challenge. From fear of missing out (FOMO) to the illusional world that technology lets us dive into, the challenges resist the screen and non-screen balance extremely much. In pursuit of an equilibrium, we see the complexities and the ideal scenarios that do not work for an individual needs a screen for every chore of the day. Technological advancements make our lives really easy and miserable at the same time. Thus, a commitment to yourself about a balanced lifestyle will just not improve the quality of life but will also greatly help in a goal-oriented lifestyle and a more focused approach to one’s daily chores.