Our Digital Lives: How To Overcome Internet Addiction, Simple Yet Useful Tips

Half of the teenagers in the United States admit they are addicted to their smartphones, and how can they not; when they get in touch with the internet only at the age of three. Health scientists advise new parents not to allow any interaction with the screen to their kids until the age of seven. Specifically, they mention that each child can watch TV or any screen for as many minutes as its age. For example, a 3-year-old is allowed to spend three minutes per day watching the telly. Genders are both equally affected, while 67% of the population owns a smartphone. The latest research showed that people in western societies spend 6 hours on the internet. We don’t talk about being on their laptop working; no, we talk about surfing on the web! Impressive as it may sound, it is indeed a current issue, and we have to take action and not get drowned in this new situation.

1. Update your phone and your space
   Notifications play a significant role; they don’t let you forget that the internet is there. It is like trying to start a diet and getting in a pastry. Among other things you should do, turning off your notifications is one of them. Did you know some apps let you know how much time you spend on the internet and to which sites you stayed the most? The apps were designed for this purpose. To inform you about your situation in detail and help you recover. Check where you spend most of your time and understand why you visit these websites more than others. What they provide you and how you can replace their role in your life. Finally, there should also be neutral zones in the house where you cannot use any technology; your bedroom should be one of them.
2. Join team activities
   Team activities are perfect for finding new friends. The activities will keep you busy for a while, and you will be in an environment where you are not allowed to check your phone for a bit. The team will not wait for you to take a break, which is a good thing. It will help you stay focused and slowly become independent of technology. Getting in touch with people and feeling excited about your activity will help you forget about technology for a while. It can broaden your horizons and end up providing you further happiness, even more, that you were planning in the first place.
3. Work out every day
   It is incredible how exercise can work for you. People have a common misunderstanding that training is about getting in shape. The reality is that the last thing that is positively affected is the appearance of your body. When we exercise, the brain releases a variety of useful hormones to relax our muscles. These hormones act to calm our stress also. They help us clear our minds and throw away all the toxins. It is practically the most efficient way to reprogram your brain. It is vital to adopt this new habit and practice it every day. Along with your addiction, it will help your sleep and overall health and decrease your stress levels.
4. Change habits
   Internet addiction is no different from other kinds of addiction. Your brain has probably linked many situations with the presence of technology. The most common is to eat while watching a channel on youtube. Another tricky one is to wake up by the alarm clock of your mobile. Put your mobile out of the bedroom and use the old fashioned alarm clock. This way, checking your phone will not be the last thing you do before you sleep and the first thing you do when you wake up. You want another idea. The mobile is also used as an agenda. Every time you check out what you have to do during the day, you find an opportunity also to check your messages. Use paper instead and pick your phone only when you need to.
5. Meditate
   Meditation can be perfectly combined with your daily workout. After you complete your set of exercises, spend some time meditating. It doesn’t have to be for a long time, although the more, the better. Ten minutes are still enough. Close your eyes, stay in a comfortable position, and try to clear your thoughts. If your mind keeps thinking, you can focus on one of your five senses. For example, you can try to follow the sounds that surround you at the moment and stop thinking about anything else. Meditation is not something that has to take place every day, but if your addiction is persistent, you should consider giving it a try.