A famous French entrepreneur once claimed, “The most important impact on society and the world is the cell phone. Cell phones have actually been one of the primary drivers in productivity improvements”. Do you believe that’s true? Some might say it’s very possible but others may find it hard to believe.
Every day, teenagers spend hours and hours scrolling on screens. They’re often on social media, texting friends, scrolling on TikTok, or overall being unproductive. You know what’s worse? Many students are so addicted that they continue this poor behavior at school, during class time.
These phones are negatively impacting teeangers across the globe as they take up time better used for new knowledge, homework, and even sleep. Not to mention the many social interactions and outdoor time they are missing out on everyday. What teenagers need to realize is that the only way to overcome this is to have self control and self determination. We must also take the time to reflect on how device usage affects academic performance. Phones have shown to cause poor sleep habits, unnecessary stress as well as drama, and increases one’s risk for cardiovascular diseases. Oftentimes, the root of depression is also the excessive use of devices. Though these may seem minor or less significant, overtime they can cause emotional problems and long lasting problems as teenagers enter adulthood.
Nonetheless, several students may state that they spend so much time on their devices because their school work and resources are online. In my opinion, most teenagers waste more time on their devices for entertainment and relaxation than they do for educational purposes. For this reason, it is important for students to strategize effective ways to limit screen time.
Studying with textbooks vs. studying with devices
Over the years, teenagers have been exposed to both studying with devices and studying with physical textbooks. Overtime, we’ve leaned towards using devices to study but both ways of studying have their pros and cons. For instance, studying with physical textbooks is more efficient when studying a concept or memorizing knowledge. However, it may not always be cost effective for all students. On the other hand, according to EZTexting, studying with devices can be helpful as it sustains lots of information and textbooks in one, and it’s easily adaptable to this generation. The biggest con would be overexposure.
Techniques to reduce device usage
There are many steps a student can take to monitor device usage. One of the biggest ideas is to hold yourself accountable by increasing self-awareness and setting boundaries. Some techniques to help with this include:
- DO NOT DISTURB: Many teenagers are effectively making use of this feature on their devices. This feature reduces distractions because it sends silent notifications. It helps many teenagers stay on task.
- PUTTING YOUR PHONES IN A DIFFERENT ROOM: You are less likely to get distracted because you are not constantly seeing or hearing notifications. ALthough it can be tempting to go look for it for the first couple of days, overtime you will get used to it being put away.
- MONITOR SCREEN TIME WITH APPS: Some examples of these apps include Cold Turkey that blocks certain social media apps when you are working. RescueTime App, and the Freedom App are just a few other options.
- TAKE BREAKS: Take approximately 5 to 10 minutes every hour you spend on devices. Use this time to walk around, stretch or simply do something active.
- EXERCISE REGULARLY: Take 30 minutes of your day to exercise every day. Avoid using your devices at all. This will not only reduce screen usage but it will improve your mental and physical health helping you excel better.
- CALL A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER: Rather than texting your friends and family, try an old fashioned call. You can work on homework together or just socialize. This will help you create better relationships and reduce screen time!
- APPROACH SCREEN FREE STUDYING: Everyday, for 2-3 hours, try going old school and use physical textbooks, paper, and pen to study. One way you can try this is to prepare your materials in advance, print things out, and make a schedule to hold yourself accountable.
tl;dr
The excessive use of devices can lead to several issues such as unnecessary drama, stress, diseases, lack of sleep and much more. These can affect performance at school as well as in other social aspects. The key to using devices wisely is balance and self-control. Realizing and trying new techniques such as taking breaks, and leaning towards screen free learning can help break unhealthy habits. This can lead to the development of a healthy relationship with phones, and more success in all aspects of life. You can further refer to the “A Guide to Habit Change” on the TMC Website for more information on reestablishing your habits!