by Kathleen Boucher
Have you ever wondered where the time goes to get things done?
Have you ever felt you were running out of time and that there should be 25 hours in a day instead of 24?
Are you working on goals that make you feel alive and energized? Or at the end of the day, you think time has slipped through your fingers?
How much time do you spend scrolling on your phone?
Japan has the lowest screen time at 3 hours 56 minutes, compared to Africa at 9 hours 24 minutes.¹ And 53% of global screen time users have smartphones. (Demandsage)² How do you compare?
To change a habit, you have to be aware of how much time you are scrolling in the first place.
There are reasons you and others scroll for hours.
You may get addicted to new content that triggers a small amount of dopamine, which makes you feel good. You may feel lonely and feel connected when you respond to comments, or you’ve developed a reflex that is now habitual. You do it mindlessly and lose track of time. You may fear missing crucial information that keeps you up to date on current world affairs.
Does scrolling have consequences? In the article, Why We Mindlessly Scroll: The Psychology Behind Mobile Scrolling in Free Time and How to Break the Habit, there are impacts: a sense of wasted time, a reduced attention span, and mental fatigue or sleep disturbances from nighttime scrolling.³
What can you do about it? Please keep track of how much time you spend scrolling, then limit it. Reducing the time spent scrolling can be done incrementally. Understanding why you scroll helps build awareness.
The question is, “What are you going to do with all your free time?”
I can hear you laughing!?
