The New York TimesThe New York Times

How to Break a Phone Addiction

By Annie Sneed

08 Feb 2022 · 4 min read

Editor's Note

Most people accept they are addicted to their phone to some degree - if you aren't, you are one of the lucky few. The NYT provides insights into how to have a healthier relationship with your screen.

Q: I have my phone with me at all times and check it hundreds of times a day. Are there any proven ways to treat screen addiction?

Our work, social lives and entertainment have become inextricably tied to our devices, and the pandemic has made matters worse. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in April, for instance, found that among the 81% of adults in the United States who used video calls to connect with others since the beginning of the pandemic, 40% said they felt “worn out or fatigued” from those calls, and 33% said they have tried to scale back the amount of time they spent on the internet or on their smartphones.

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