The concept of a digital detox is not new, as evidenced by the 66.6 million Google search results it yields. While we’re on the topic of Google, it’s essential to protect your privacy by concealing your address, phone number, and other personal information that may appear in search results. Follow these simple steps to learn how.
Even with the widespread popularity of “digital detoxing,” most of us still don’t dedicate enough time away from our devices. It may be unreasonable to completely eliminate screen time, but I challenge you to reduce it by half for a week. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
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To gain awareness of your screen time, your smartphone keeps track of the duration you spend staring at your screen and the apps that consume the most time. If you haven’t seen this report before or it’s been a while, it can be eye-opening. Social media, email, and messaging apps tend to be the primary culprits for most individuals. Here’s how you can access your screen time report:
– On an iPhone: Go to Settings > Screen Time > See All Activity.
– On an Android: Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
Once you view the report, you’ll witness a graph illustrating your activity, including the average daily screen time, and your most frequently used apps. You’ll even discover how often you unlock your phone, which can sometimes be embarrassing.
Before we delve further, let’s address the issue of notifications. The sounds our phones make, such as buzzes, chimes, and dings, have conditioned us to pick up our phones as soon as we hear them. However, there’s a simple way to significantly reduce the number of times you check your phone. Set it to Do Not Disturb mode. Personally, I employ this feature during vacations and weekends when my loved ones are present, eliminating the worry of missing important calls. Nevertheless, you can enable certain calls to ring through on the first attempt or allow someone to call twice in a row to bypass Do Not Disturb. Follow these steps to allow select people’s messages to come through during Do Not Disturb mode:
– Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb.
– Tap People and ensure that Allow Notifications From is checked.
– Tap Add People and select contacts from your list.
– Tap Done once you’ve finished.
As for phone calls, there’s a separate setting for that:
– Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb.
– Tap People, then tap the menu next to Allow Calls From (the default is Contact Only).
– Choose Allowed People Only to enable the ringing of your phone for contacts added to the Focus and Emergency Bypass lists.
If someone has set their phone to Do Not Disturb mode, there’s a hidden method to contact them. I have personally utilized this strategy multiple times with my son. Here’s how it works on an Android device (steps may vary depending on your phone’s model):
– Go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb.
– Look for the section indicating potential interruptions and select People.
– Add individuals whose messages or calls you want to receive even when DND is active.
Now, let’s talk about managing your app usage. You don’t need to lock your phone away to reduce your app usage. Your iPhone comes equipped with built-in settings that facilitate this goal without requiring additional downloads or paid apps. Follow these steps:
– Go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Turn On Screen Time.
– Select Continue on the following page and tap This is my iPhone. (You can choose This is My Child’s iPhone if you wish to set it up for them.)
– Tap Downtime and slide the toggle next to Scheduled to enable it. This activates downtime during the specified time period. A reminder will appear five minutes before downtime begins.
– Choose between Every Day or Customize Days, then set the start and end times.
– Only allowed calls, messages, and apps will be accessible during downtime. However, you may still need to access certain apps for work or other important matters throughout the day. In iOS, you can set limits for app categories or individual apps by following these steps:
– Go to Settings > Screen Time and turn on Screen Time.
– Tap App Limits > Add Limit.
– Select desired app categories or choose All Apps & Categories for comprehensive limitations.
– To limit individual apps, tap a category to view all apps within it and then select the apps you want to restrict.
– Proceed to set a time limit and customize days if necessary.
– Tap Add when finished.
In Android, you can limit app usage by using the Digital Wellbeing app, which enables you to set app timers and schedule display changes. Here’s how:
– Open your phone’s Settings app.
– Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls, then select the chart.
– Choose the app you want to limit or tap the hourglass icon.
– Set the maximum duration you can spend in the app and tap OK or Set.
– When there is only one minute left, the app will switch to black and white, effectively locking you out. You can override this, but I encourage you to stick with the limit.
You now have the necessary tools to take control of your screen time. The rest is up to you! I am confident that you can do this.
Remember to keep enhancing your tech knowledge. Check out my popular podcast, “Kim Komando Today,” where I discuss tech news, tips, and answer questions from callers across the country. Search for it on your preferred podcast platform. For your convenience, I have provided a link to a recent episode below:
– [Link to Podcast Episode]
Lastly, if you are still using a landline, here’s an interesting fact: it can reveal something about your personality. I also explore topics such as building personal cloud storage, trucking companies hiring gamers, Google’s new 3D views, and a director-approved TV setting. Tune in to my podcast, “Kim Komando Today,” available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Search for my last name, “Komando,” and enjoy.
Don’t worry if you feel like a non-expert in the world of technology. With my guidance, you’ll sound like a pro. Trust me, I’ve got you covered. Listen to me on over 425 radio stations or access my podcast. Join the 400,000+ people who receive my free 5-minute daily email newsletter.
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