Isabella Susino

Detoxing from tech: giving up social media and lowering screen time

—

by

isabella susino
in

Lowering my screen time has been something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Actually following through with it was much more difficult than I thought it was going to be.

I track my phone screen time through my Android’s “Digital Wellbeing & parental controls” that comes pre-installed within the settings. iOS users also have a similar function in their settings. It was challenging to remember to write down when I watched an episode of a TV show, and when I was playing a game on the X-Box. I excluded these in my data, because I have been busy with schoolwork, starting a new part-time position, and have really emphasized staying off screens. So, if I was doing something with my partner, or just doing something purley for fun (with no switching!) – I allowed it.

Within my research, I have found Google Chrome plugins that assist with productivity and blocking distractions.

That being said, I am going to break down my phone screentime from the past week. The data will be slightly skewed from “normal usage” because I have the Minimalist Phone app downloaded – which makes your phone less enticing to use. I stated earlier that I started a new position and have made exceptions here and there for purely fun activities. I was also camping this past weekend, hiking Mount Marcy (16 miles total), and driving, so that has also effected my data.

Monday

  • 2 hours, 18 mins Google Search
  • 32 mins on Google Maps
  • 24 mins text messaging
  • 19 mins YouTube
  • 11 mins for phone calls
  • 3 mins Google Calendar
  • 2 mins Gmail
  • TOTAL: 3 hours, 56 mins

Tuesday

  • 3 hours, 10 mins Google Maps
  • 29 mins Google Search
  • 11 mins text messaging
  • 10 mins Google Chrome
  • 2 mins Facebook Messenger Lite
  • TOTAL: 4 hours, 11 mins

Wednesday

  • 10 mins for text messages
  • 5 minutes for phone calls
  • 2 mins Google Search
  • 2 mins Google Calendar
  • 1 min Google Photos
  • TOTAL: 29 mins

Thursday

  • 10 mins on Google Search
  • 7 mins text messaging
  • 4 mins banking app
  • 2 mins Google Calendar
  • 2 mins Google Photos
  • TOTAL: 29 mins

Friday

  • 4 hours, 41 mins Google Maps
  • 2 hours, 32 mins Spotify
  • 1 hour, 25 mins Google Search
  • 48 mins for phone calls
  • 20 mins for text messaging
  • 3 mins Hiking Project
  • 1 min Todoist
  • TOTAL: 7 hours, 23 mins

Saturday

  • 7 hours, 59 minutes – Hiking Project was running
  • 11 mins Google Maps
  • 1 hour, 14 mins Google Search
  • 8 minutes for phone calls
  • 8 mins for text messaging
  • 4 mins Google Photos
  • 3 mins Garmin Connect
  • 2 mins for my camera
  • TOTAL: 2 hours, 4 mins

Sunday

  • 4 hours, 56 mins Google Maps
  • 1 hour, 22 mins Spotify
  • 55 mins Google Search
  • 13 mins text messaging
  • 11 mins Settings
  • 8 mins Chrome
  • 7 mins for phone calls
  • 1 min Garmin Connect
  • 1 min Google Photos
  • TOTAL: 6 hours, 22 mins

I will now list my phone screentime data from the previous week for comparison.

Monday

  • 36 mins Google Search
  • 12 mins text messaging
  • 8 mins Google Chrome
  • 2 mins camera
  • 1 min Gmail
  • TOTAL: 1 hour, 1 min

Tuesday

  • 2 hours, 28 mins Google Search
  • 49 mins Google Chrome
  • 9 mins text messaging
  • 3 mins for phone calls
  • 1 min Todoist
  • 1 min Gmail
  • TOTAL: 3 hours, 38 mins

Wednesday

  • 2 hours, 10 mins Google Search
  • 41 mins for phone calls
  • 20 mins text messaging
  • 3 mins Gmail
  • 2 mins Facebook Messenger Lite
  • 2 mins Google Calendar
  • TOTAL: 3 hours, 24 mins

Thursday

  • 52 mins for phone calls
  • 33 mins Google Maps
  • 30 mins text messaging
  • 28 mins Google Search
  • 9 mins Google Calendar
  • 6 mins HipCamp app
  • 4 mins Gmail
  • 4 mins Chrome
  • 3 mins Facebook Messenger Lite
  • 2 mins Spotify
  • 2 mins AllTrails
  • TOTAL: 2 hours, 57 mins

Friday

  • 1 hour, 59 mins Google Search
  • 32 mins text messaging
  • 21 mins for phone calls
  • 5 mins Gmail
  • 4 mins Google Calendar
  • 1 min Google Chrome
  • TOTAL: 3 hours, 9 mins

Saturday

  • 2 hours, 12 minutes – Hiking Project was running
  • 1 hour, 40 mins Google Maps
  • 20 mins Google Search
  • 5 mins text messaging
  • 3 mins camera
  • 3 mins Gmail
  • 2 mins for phone calls
  • TOTAL: 2 hours, 21 mins

Sunday

  • 21 mins Google Search
  • 14 mins Google Maps
  • 6 mins text messaging
  • 5 mins Google Chrome
  • 4 mins Adobe Scan
  • 3 mins Google Photos
  • 3 mins for phone calls
  • 2 mins on Todoist
  • TOTAL: 1 hour, 6 mins

The data shows the heavy usage of my phone, even with precautions in place. This experiment was worth the hassle. I’m seeing that my screentime is around the same, even without the use of social media applications. The next step is to eradicate all social media platforms, or at least block the websites from my computer and phone.

How are you going to lower your screentime?

Bonus: some pictures from my hike!

Comments

Leave a comment