ManhattanLife was established to help support the health, wealth and security of our customers. Over 175 years later, this remains our goal. Through our blog we delve into methods for strengthening and maintaining one’s wellness. The following discusses strategies for building healthier relationships with our smartphones.

Picture the last time you shared a meal with another person at a restaurant. In the span of an hour: How many times did you glance at your phone? How many times did they look at theirs? And what about digital watch notifications? A dinner like this is where victory and loss collide. It’s absolutely a triumph that you managed to meet in person. But when you are together, because of an apparent bond to the screen, you are each still, at least attentionally, distant from one another. This, however, is only at the micro level of live, human-to-human interaction. 

Let’s consider a bigger scene. Think of the most recent wedding you attended. Hundreds of people gathered to witness a happy couple exchange vows. But when the bride made their way down the aisle, how many phones were out to capture this special moment? Perhaps it was ten. Perhaps more. Was the moment then made more special because it was captured or was some of its magic diluted as a result? And what’s more, how many of the people recording simply watched the event unfold through their phone screens rather than cherish the moment as it happened? 

It's no secret that digital technology is deeply integral to our daily functioning. But it is our smartphones, the small yet very powerful computers in our pockets that have, over a fairly short period, revolutionized how we experience mundane tasks to the most special events. Like a precious appendage, we are perpetually attached. We’ve officially reached a stage where whether you’re a student navigating college or an executive thirty years into your career, existing phone-free would demand colossal effort.

It's not all bad though. Some of it’s rather wonderful. Our smartphones have the capacity to help us to do important things: chat with family and friends across the world, manage our finances, learn a new language, along with so much more. We are fortunate to enjoy all its strengths, the awesome magic it continues to make. Even if we don’t maximize a phone’s full potential, the fact that it seems to have an endless amount is enough to keep us always going back for more metaphorical treasure. 

So, let’s consider a handful of ways to have a healthier relationship with our phones by taking a vacation of sorts from them. This doesn’t require turning them off for days on end but it does involve reallocating our time and encouraging more attention toward live, face-to-face experiences.

New Hobbies – Try finding a hobby or activity that involves using your hands continuously whether it’s gardening, baking or archery. We’re conditioned to want to handle items, to keep our hands occupied, to carry, to fidget, to move about. Our phones are fantastic at fulfilling this need. But there are countless alternatives for staying engaged and productive that don’t require a screen.

Use a Desktop – With the influx of dynamic apps, whether it’s paying bills or typing a document, we’ve begun using our phones to complete tasks we once relied on our desktop computers for. Consider switching back where you can. That way, once you’re done, you’re not necessarily tempted to send a flurry of texts or jump over to another app as you would on your phone.

Lessen the Visual Appeal – Smartphones are designed to look slick, shiny and irresistible. This design is no accident and the part it plays in our attachment is significant. One way around this though is to alter some of its appearance. Consider phone wallpapers with unappealing colors or add a dull font. Perhaps even look at a phone case that’s not so aesthetically pleasing. Customizing the look of your phone may help you to look away from it more.

Check Your Times – Many phones now have a built-in wellbeing monitor that provides data on how much time you are on your phone, which apps you use and more. This can be a beneficial method to track your daily phone use. In some cases, you may even challenge yourself to see how much you can lessen the use of a particular app over the course of a single week.

Quieter Spaces – There are probably several places around your town that actively encourage patrons to abstain from tapping away on their phone. It could be a library, a museum, a bookstore. These establishments not only engage us intellectually but remind us of the value that just looking up for five minutes has. Even a walk or ride at a park could do wonders for your mental and physical health.

There is, of course, some measure of irony here. Much of this article’s audience is probably reading this very article on their smartphone. That’s the paradox though. The very thing that draws us ever in is also what can help guide us out. This article isn’t about admonishment or vilifying the technology that, in large part, has helped enrich countless communities and engineer a more capable, efficient society. But put simply, real and physical interaction with the world will always be more compelling than what’s on a screen. It’s less about stopping to smell the roses and more about resisting the temptation to take out your phone for a photo of them.