Simple Ways to Stay Away From Your Phone

"I'm too busy working on being better than I was yesterday."

This quote has been my phone wallpaper for the longest time. I look at it, feel extremely inspired and energised, but then five minutes later I am scrolling through Facebook and killing time.

The world today is full of inspirational quotes and wonderful people. We read these quotes and meet these people. We are determined to change our lives for the better. And yet, comes tomorrow and I am back on WhatsApp, talking about things of the past or future. As fun as it is, I know in my heart that I am spending my precious time on things that do not add to my growth and happiness.

So what do I do? To get out of the endless trap that WhatsApp and Facebook have caught me in.

The first step is realising that I can do it. My life is in my control. Facebook is the same for everyone. Yet the amount of time spent on it is different for everyone. This clearly indicates that the relationship between the Internet and me is determined by my actions.

The second step is realising that we have developed a habit of scrolling through Facebook. More than half the time our minds don't even register the content we are going through. We do it because it's easy. It allows us to escape responsibilities that need to be taken care of.

However, we also know that habits are formed by repeatedly carrying out the same action. Which implies that habits are formed over time and therefore can also be changed over time.

So how do we change this habit?

One possible way is that we restrict the amount of time spent on our mobile phone. I know from experience that this can be highly effective for a short period of time. However, if we want long term success, then we'll have to add another ingredient.

And that ingredient is to find an alternative. Something that you are really passionate about. Remember when you used to spend hours reading? Remember when  day and night were no longer of consequence because The Chamber of Secrets had been opened again and you couldn't wait to find out what happened next? I remember it too. I ache to be able read like that again, To be lost in the magical world of emotions and words.

However, every time I try to read, I am constantly distracted. Why? Because my brain has developed a habit of being distracted by my phone.

Small steps. That is how I will proceed further. Today I will read for just 15 minutes. That's 15 less minutes spent on my phone. Tomorrow, I will read for 30 minutes. That is 30 less minutes spent on my phone.

I am consciously making a decision to change my life for the better. And I know I don't have to do it alone. We can do it together. Small steps only. For every child learns to take small steps before it is ready for the giant leap.