{"id":4784,"date":"2024-04-29T10:13:32","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T14:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/?p=4784"},"modified":"2024-04-29T10:13:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T14:13:32","slug":"how-you-can-break-your-bad-digital-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/2024\/04\/how-you-can-break-your-bad-digital-habits.html","title":{"rendered":"How You Can Break Your Bad Digital Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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First introduced in 1992, smartphones have become a vital part of our everyday lives, from managing our finances to communicating with loved ones. The frequent use of them and other tech devices can be draining and distracting, and it\u2019s still challenging for most people to cut down. According to a 2023 survey by Reviews.org<\/a>, Americans check their phones 144 times a day on average. Anastasia Dedyukhina, a digital wellbeing expert, told CNBC Make It that constantly looking at your smartphone can negatively impact the depth of your conversations.<\/p>\n

She says, \u201cIf I had my smartphone next to me, it would attract my attention, consciously or unconsciously. I would also keep thinking about it because, for our minds, a smartphone and the sound of a smartphone is a highly attractive stimuli. So when I hear my phone ringing and make a notification, for my mind, it\u2019s the same as if you were calling me by my name.\u201d Frequently switching between tasks can have consequences on your health, according to\u00a0Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, who wrote a book about attention span and how to refocus when distracted.<\/p>\n

Shifting what you\u2019re focusing on often can increase levels of stress, require more mental effort to complete tasks and cause feelings of frustration and time pressure, Mark told\u00a0Fast Company\u00a0in 2008. Dedyukhina says, \u201cRather than trying to limit the bad habits, I would very much encourage you to have more good habits.\u201d A few healthy habits that she recommends adding to your routine include spending more time outdoors, move your body often, schedule time to hang out with your friends and family. It\u2019s even better if you plan an activity to do together.<\/p>\n