Guide to Smartphone Fasting
Do you have love-hate relationship with your smartphone? Being glued to your phone every night and day? Feeling anxious and empty without having your fingers tap the screen? Waking up and having your fingers mimic scrolling timeline, even without a phone? This is a problem! It is time for a change! Take control of your destiny once again!
Take note that this article is not the shiny, glossy, and too-good-to-be-true motivation + ads + seminar invitation. What this piece wants to offer is practical tips on dealing with your smartphone addiction with just, a little gimmick. Just a little, right?
Just a little… That’s what I thought until I got the harms of smartphone addiction: friendships ruined, schedules messed, and goals ceased. Smartphone addiction is real, and it costs me so much. Yet, as a social media practitioner and writer, internet has become an integral part of my life, and binds me tight through my smartphone. I’m not sure what to do to curb this, until I learn a concept called smartphone fasting.
Smartphone fasting is not merely putting your phone away, it is a conscious attempt to do things without a smartphone. On another word, get through your day without internet. As my job involves with the internet greatly, total disconnect wouldn’t be suitable. Gaining inspiration from religion practices of fasting, I decide to do fasting on my digital habits. It has been a great experience with gradual benefits day by day.
The basic key to do smartphone fasting is to be offline. It sounds simple, but it does not feel like that. Being offline for some time can become really awkward, but it is possible. Right now, I am sharing day tips for smartphone fasting, tips when you just starting your day. Here’s how to do it.
1. Try small minutes
I start with 5-minutes interval: 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, to hours. Pick your own time, and do some activity like…
2. Think what you want to do today
Of course everybody now already have a to-do list, but rethinking it will help you get refreshed for knowing exactly what to do for the whole day. For first-timers, this will help get your life organized.
3. Make your own breakfast
Start with drink a glass of your water to refresh your body, then make your own meals. This will keep your hands and mind busy that keeps you away from distraction.
4. Brisk walking around your neighborhood
A little walk gives you light physical activity. Besides, you may discover hidden gems around your neighborhood (shops, snacks, novelties) and know more faces from their smiles (I know it’s awkward, but you will get used to it).
5. Do devotional / meditation
Religious people do have advantages of fasting, as they set a special time for prayers and reading scriptures. For first timers, meditation is another good method for having your life examined and evaluated for better goals. Try to put attention more to your guidance before doing anything else.
6. Cleaning your room
Cleaning your own bedroom makes you more caring. You get double benefits: fit body and fit place to sleep.
7. Pick a book then read
It is time to pick the untouched books in your cabinet. If you got none, browse through the nearest book store and find something interesting for you.
