I recently downloaded this app called Moment from the app store (I am not sure if it’s available for android phones). The app measure how long you are on your phone daily. It even lets you know how long you are using your apps as well.
From what it sounds like, according to the app, most people spend about 4 hours a day on their phone! I average about 3 hours and 40 minutes a day. Any thing past 3 hours is in the red zone, meaning too much time spent on the device.
With out further adieu, my new and improved nighttime routine for less screen time.
Okay real life confessions here, there was one day where I apparently spent 7 hours on my phone! What? 7 hours? Like did I even pay attention to my kids that day? SMH.
I have some good days were I am only on it about 2 hours and 30 mins or so, but most days its 4 hours. Crazy right? Well to justify (Ha!) I use my phone way more than my laptop, so things I would do on my laptop I use my phone for.
I also realized that I spend so much time on my phone before bed and I could be doing so much other more important things instead. Knowing all of this, I have decided to spend my night time doing different activities than play on my phone. I knew I had to make a change to my nighttime routine for less screen time and add more me time.
Here’s what I decided to do instead:
Work on a hobby
I personally am a crafty person. I love doing DIYs and honestly just using my hands to do something. Have you ever watched King of the Hill, were Dale says he smokes because he doesn’t know what to do with his hands? That’s me. I don’t smoke, but I hand to do things with my hands otherwise I don’t know what to do with them. (ha!) Some of the hobbies I am going at night now are calligraphy, cross stitch, and weaving. Do you have a hobby you could work on before bed?
Read a book
This one used to be what most people actually did before smart phones. This is one I started doing this again recently. I noticed that if I was on my phone before bed, I wasn’t able to sleep as quickly.
Picking up reading again has helped. I love doing this! I love fiction books but I also love non-fiction as well.
When I was in college I took a class were we studied memory. One of the points I remember was if you studied before bedtime, your brain was able to store that into your memory and it would become something you would remember more easily. I would always study for exams and finals before bed and I really would remember what I had studied the next morning.
Plus, if you are reading a fiction book I feel like it makes your dreams more fun. I am currently reading this book.
Spend time with your significant other
If you have one and they live with you, it is a great time to catch up on each others day and even plan the next day. Being a parent has definitely changed night time for my husband and I. We use it to catch up with each other and watch our shows too.
Meditate on your day
Another good nighttime routine for less screen time is Meditation. Getting quiet with yourself or with God is another good way to wrap up your day. Reflect on the events that occurred that day.
Focus on the positive things that happened that day and reflect on the negatives. Were you mindfully present throughout your day? Is there anything you would like to do differently the next day? What would you do again if you could?
If the day didn’t go as planned or it was a bad day, think about the new day that is coming with new mercies and new beginnings.
These are just a few of the activities that I am trying to do instead of being on my phone right before bedtime. I also have made a schedule for them too.
I love calligraphy and hand lettering so I try to do those twice a week at minimum. This ensures that my skills don’t get rusty and also that I have time to improve my skills, which I love improving. I am learning to weave looms. I think they are so pretty and I have one night a week sometimes more where I work on that as well.
For reading, it depends on the book. If it is very interesting I will schedule more nights a week to read.
I hope this helps inspire you to spend less time on your phone at night and spend more time on you. You are important and your life and time is valuable.
What is your nighttime routine for less screen time? How do you spend your nights before bed?
XO,
Jenni
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See more lifestyle post such as Mom’s self care here and 5 tips for work at home moms here.
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