Today’s post comes from Lauren Gray. As a community manager for several brands, Lauren has plenty of experience learning how to detach from her phone during off-hours. Here are her tips to help you do the same:
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Post by: Lauren Gray
As a community manager myself, I hate to step away from my phone and other devices in case anything goes wrong at any instant, but we have to let go of those fears. I know I’m not the only one who’s tired of seeing everyone walking around on their phones and I’m sure one (or more) of your friends has asked you to stop constantly checking yours.
Last year, I halted my phone obsession and have a few tips so you can too:
- Turn off your personal push notifications. Seriously this is the first step and you can do it. You don’t need to see every like to your personal posts, every new follow or every new like on Instagram. It is not important and you have to start a detox from notifications.
- Only sign into your Facebook and Twitter brand accounts: Often at work, I chose to “use Facebook as” one of the accounts I manage so I don’t see that red notification symbol pop up. It’s the same way with your phone. Only use the Facebook Page Manager app and only have your brand Twitter accounts up. It will decrease your usage.
- Wait to respond: Not everything needs an immediate response. You know you can actually wait to respond to emails, tweets, messages, etc. If it’s really important, someone will call you (and that never happens). Don’t feel rushed to answer anything. Take your time to respond after hours.
- Leave your phone and computer in another room: You don’t actually need to live-tweet every single thing you do or every show you watch. Leave your phone and laptop in another room for at least two hours a night and it will pay off. Your friends and/or significant other will appreciate this too.
- Don’t reach for your phone first thing in the morning: Commit to a phone-free morning for the first 30 minutes of your day. Stretch, eat a healthy breakfast, walk your dog, have an actual conversation, etc. I promise this will help instead of obsessing over email!
- Play the phone stack restaurant game: When you’re out on a date or out with friends, make sure everyone stacks their phone in the middle of the table. The first one that reaches for their phone pays the bill, pays for a round of drinks or has to pay for an appetizer. This makes sure you aren’t another group sitting around on your phones, but actually talking to each other.
- Remember to be present: It’s wonderful to capture moments with your mobile camera, but you can wait to post it to every single outlet. It’s great to check-in for a discount, but you don’t have to check-in everywhere you go. Remember this is your actual life and it’s so much more rewarding to be present in it with the people you care about.
Make a commitment to try these things and your device addiction will dwindle. Once you stop constantly posting, checking, liking and retweeting, you will be able to spend more time doing things that actually matter, and your friends and family will immensely appreciate your efforts.
Lauren currently works in digital public relations as a community manager of several travel, technology, nonprofit and education brands. She also volunteers for PRSA and loves to spend time at home with her boyfriend and dog. Connect with her on Twitter @laurenkgray.
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Photo credit: Morid1n