How to read more and spend less time on your phone
Introduction – How to read more and spend less time on your phone.
I posted on Facebook not long ago that I had a reading habit and needed to join Reading Anonymous. It was a slightly jokey post, of course, but I love reading and go through loads of books.
One of my Facebook friends commented that she wanted to read but couldn’t because she had a mobile. I responded that I, too, have a mobile but also read. She then mentioned all the notices and distractions she got from her phone and her inability to put said mobile away.
I don’t think my Facebook friend is alone, and it is not my place to have a go at her or anyone else who feels this way. After all, 80% of the world’s population uses mobile phones, according to eduMe. It did, however, inspire me to write a blog post about how to read more and spend less time on the phone.
If you are in the same boat as my Facebook friend, spending too much time on your phone, read on. Below I will give you six tips and tricks for spending less time on your mobile and reading more.
1. Put your phone in a different room
Put your phone in a different room, or if you can’t do that, turn it off. This way, your mobile won’t tempt you to look at social media or your text messages; before you know it, you’ll have spent 15 minutes away from your book.
Did you know that in 2023 we pick up our phones on average 58 times a day?
6. The average internet user checks their phone 58 times daily. (Source: VOX)
Some people check their phones countless times in a day, especially GenZ, GenX, and Millennials. Statistics on US smartphone use for 2020 reveal that a staggering 65.6% of Americans check their phones up to 160 times daily. This shows how much mobile phones have become a part of our lives, allowing us to interconnect with one another with ease.
(https://techjury.net/blog/smartphone-usage-statistics/)
2. Disable all notifications on your phone
Disable all notifications, apart from essential ones. Who needs to know that your lives in Candy Crush have been restored when you are deep in a murder mystery or travelling back in time to the Brontës? I have ageing parents, and for them to be able to get in touch is essential. Whether reading or not, I only get notifications from Signal, WhatsApp (not group chats) and email. I have switched off all other notifications.
In case you didn’t know, you can go into your phone’s settings and, under notifications, look at all your apps and decide which you want notifications on and for which you don’t. To get instructions click here for Android and here for iPhones.
If you are a WhatsApp user, you can also turn off notifications from individual chats or contacts. You can do this permanently or for a fixed period. Click here for help on how to do this.
3. Have different ringtones for different types of contacts
Different ringtones for different types of contacts enable you to quickly assess whether you need to look at a message or pick up that call.
I have four different ringtones. One for my family, one for close friends, one for people I know and one for unknown numbers. Different ring tones allow me to be in touch with my parents if they need me without being distracted by cat photos from a random acquaintance.
You can set this up by clicking on an individual contact and changing the ringtone. To learn how to do it on a Samsung smartphone, click here. For iPhone, click here.
4. Use the Pomodoro Technique to stay focused and away from your phone
The Pomodoro technique is a well-known method to be more productive and focused. You set a timer for 25, in which you focus on one activity. When the 25 minutes are up, you are allowed a 5-minute break. In the interval, you can do what you like and are encouraged to get up and move around. You repeat this four times before taking a more extended break. Learn more about the Pomodoro technique here.
I use the Pomodoro technique frequently to stay focused on one activity and not procrastinate. It could work well when you wish to read and be away from your phone. You know you are allowed on your phone as a reward for reading for 25 minutes.
It is also perfect if you wish to get back into reading again after a long absence, as 25 minutes will appear less daunting.
A 25-minute Pomodoro session is long enough to get a little work done but not so long that it feels painful or overwhelming. Unlike trying to work without a break for hours, it’s relatively easy to stack small sessions on top of each other. (Forbes)
Of course, you can set your own time for a Pomodoro session. You can start with 10 minutes and then increase as you go along.
Are you struggling to find 25 minutes in your day? Why not block off 25 minutes in your calendar so you won’t be tempted to do anything else? Start with once a week and increase as you get into reading.
5. Hide or delete apps that are distracting
If there are apps that you frequently use to procrastinate or which are distracting, why not delete them from your phone or hide them?
Scroll Instagram for hours or check the football scores constantly? Delete your news app and Instagram, so you must go onto the web and search for the app. Annoying to do that on the phone. Yes, that is the point!
If you need the app but don’t want to use it that much, why not bury them in a folder on your phone rather than have them on the home screen?
6. Read physical books to get away from screens
Read physical books, newspapers, or a Kindle without Wi-Fi, so you won’t be tempted to check something online quickly.
When reading newspapers, it is much better to read the print edition, even if it’s more expensive, as you will concentrate on what you are reading rather than click on a link that the article’s writer suggests for further info. I had often gone down the rabbit hole of clicking on links and then, before I knew it, had read 20 minutes just on one topic.
Conclusion– How to read more and spend less time on your phone
Above are my six top tips on how to read more and be less distracted by your phone.
Let me make this quite clear. I am not saying that mobile phones are harmful. There is a time and place for everything. I am a geek, have used computers since 1987 and am interested in technological advances and gadgets. But I believe using them more intentionally is good and will help you get back into reading.
Still, struggling? Give me a buzz, and we can discuss working together.
trabantbettina
Bettina Anna Trabant, Founder of Life Organised, your professional organising and decluttering service in East London. Eco-conscious minimalist and avid tea drinker,