Phones and wellbeing are generally considered to have as much in common as Trump and a rational argument.
But given most of us are more intimately acquainted with our smartphones than our partners, getting rid of them entirely is a scary and impractical option.
So I personally think there are 3 main solutions:
Frequent Detoxes (I’ll do a post on this another time)
Set your phone up to reduce addiction (Another future post)
Use your phone for good
So today, let’s talk about how we can utilise them for good:
ONE: Meditation Apps
The hardest part about meditating is sticking to the habit. So make it as easy as possible by having one app downloaded on your phone. Reduce the decision making, and make it front of mind by having it on the first screen on your phone.
I recommend:
Calm App - for beginners or those wanting relaxation
Waking Up App - for a more in-depth/scientific look at meditation
TWO: Yoga and Fitness Apps
Again whether you’re travelling or just have a spare 30 minutes at home, you’re more likely to do a quick workout if you don’t have to spend 30 minutes searching YouTube.
I recommend:
Downdog App - perfect for any level and you can set it to any time frame
Sweat - the famous Kayla empire is ideal for quick/easy workouts and lots of options
THREE: Pomodoro Technique
For procrastinators (and lazy people) this technique works so well. You simply set an alarm, or use the app below, for 25 minutes. Then work for 25 minutes, and rest for 5! It completely changes your mindset and reduces procrastination considerably.
I recommend:
Forest App - allows you to set the amount of time you want to work, then it grows a tree during this time which will die if you try to use your phone
FOUR: To Do Lists
I’m inherently a forgetful person, but I love the feeling of being organised and on top of my life! I prefer pen and paper for everything but an app on your phone means it’s always with you, and you’re not re-writing it every day!
I recommend:
Google Keep - it’s nice and easy and you can set up different categories for ‘work’, ‘shopping’, ‘urgent’ etc.
FIVE: Music and Podcasting
One of the main reasons we spend so much time on social media is because the human brain has become intolerant of boredom. Ideally we’d just learn to be bored (see tip 1) but in the meantime try swapping your scrolling for listening. Music or a well-chosen podcast will do a lot more for your mood than social media.
I recommend:
Spotify - particularly the ‘French Chill’ playlist
Podcasts I love - Making Sense with Sam Harris, The Knowledge Project, BBC Earth and Philosophize This
But if all else fails just keep your phone in your back pocket until it accidentally falls in the toilet one day. From 3 x personal experiences this allows you a good 2-5 day forced detox before the new phone arrives.