8 Tips to Help You Get a Grip on Your Screen Time and Feel More Alive

Many of us have goals we want to achieve. Goals vary from weight loss, smoking cessation, financial success, to reducing our time on social media or using screens. Here are 8 tips to help you achieve your screen time health goals. Many tips can be used to achieve your other goals too!

1. Partner up with a Buddy  
Ask a friend, spouse, or co-worker to join you. When you know someone is counting on you, you don’t want to let them down. The buddy system also brings a social element to your goal, which makes it more fun. If no one wants to partner with you, then maybe they can still be a motivator for you to check in with and keep you honest. 

2. Set Your First Goal 
An initial goal sets a foundation on which to build future goals. Setting a goal, such as permanently removing your phone from your bedroom, may never have entered your mind.  But after your initial goal is met, you may see other beneficial goals that can reduce your screen time and improve your health and sense of wellbeing.

​3.Change Your Routine  
Just a slight variation in routine can take you to a new level in reducing your screen time. Instead of looking at your social media first thing in the morning, take the time to do 15 minutes of stretching or meditating. What a great way to start the day and feel like you have accomplished something right after you wake up. Now that’s motivating! 

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​4. Track Your Progress  
Keep a log.  This will help you track your goals, monitor your progress and adjust your routine as necessary. You can measure how much time you have reduced your screen time by or how many days you haven’t brought your phone to the dinner table. Seeing your progress can give you that extra push you need to keep going or it can provide you with a sense of accomplishment on how far you have come. 

5. Reward Yourself 
When you reach a new screen time goal or milestone, treat yourself to something special – a massage, an evening out, new clothes or some other indulgence.  Studies show rewards are a key to staying motivated. Set that reward ahead of time, so that it acts as a motivator.

6. Remember the Benefits  
You know how good and healthy you feel after a good night’s sleep?  Make a mental note of that feeling.  Use that memory to motivate yourself the next time you’re thinking of looking at your phone before going to bed.​

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7. Go Easy on Yourself  
Stuff happens – you had a sick day and watched hours of Netflix? You had an important assignment or work project and spent hours at your laptop?  Don’t let a few days of excessive screen time turn into falling back into poor habits again. Pick yourself back up, reset the clock and move forward.

8. Plan and be Ready  
Plan your screen time use as much as you can.  Write your screen time plan in a notebook or on your phone (yes, this is a healthy use of a screen). Plan your tomorrow for success! 

Wishing you great success with your goals!

​Until next month folks,
Pierre​

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