Phone Addiction? Here's How to Save Yourself

By Brandi Goodman

Phones have quickly taken over people's lives. Though they aren't all bad, (health and fitness apps do exist) chronic phone use does far more harm to a person's life than good. If you have a phone addiction, here's how to save yourself from the pain and problems of it.

Schedule Phone Breaks

At the very least, you should be scheduling phone breaks for yourself. Don't spend hours sitting down looking at your phone screen. You need to take breaks often so you aren't remaining in one position long, nor keeping your neck tilted downward. Both can be detrimental to your health. You should get up and stretch and put your phone away at least every 20 minutes.

Do Regular Neck Stretches

Your neck can quickly become compromised when you spend so much time on your phone. Not many people hold their phones for optimal neck health. Instead, you most likely find yourself with your neck tilted down and your head hanging. This weight from your head and long-lasting position can put a lot more stress on your neck and shoulders than they can handle. You need to do regular neck stretches to help combat the effects. Roll your head around and from side-to-side often. You should also tilt your head back and look up toward the sky, holding for a good 10 seconds. 

Take a Social Media Hiatus

Spending time on social media sites may be your forte. If this is the case, you definitely need to take a social media hiatus. Looking at the perfect pictures of others -- plus seeing regular news reports depicting all the negative aspects of the world -- can have a major effect on your psyche. You should take a break from these sites for a while and focus on the positive in the world instead. Don't compare yourself to others, either. One perfect picture does not a perfect life make.

Take Up a New Hobby

Ditch the phone obsession and take up a new hobby instead. A hobby that involves health is a wise choice. You could join a fitness class, join a sport, or take up guitar-playing. So many beneficial activities are out there waiting for you to explore them. You can even go through a few before settling on the right choice for you. Just ditch the phone in the process and live in the moment.

A phone addiction can be far more detrimental to your health than you realize. Both your physical and mental well-being can suffer when you're spending more time on your device than you are in the real world. Forget the phone for a while and go do something active -- and preferably outdoors -- to ease the effects it's causing.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mission, Tex.