Much has been said about monitoring screen time and restricting smartphone usage to the minimum. However, the judicious use of mobile phones is associated with incredible convenience and several benefits. Besides ensuring hassle-free communication, they facilitate essential daily activities, from shopping to entertainment and on-the-go research. Consequently, life without mobiles is impossible to fathom. That said, you must follow a few healthy phone habits to make the best of your gadget.
Set reminders to perform healthy daily habits
You can use your smartphone to remind yourself to perform the essential tasks that are easy to miss on busy workdays. For example, you may set reminders to drink water at fixed intervals, apply sunscreen in the mornings, take breaks from work to walk about and stretch, or have meals on time. Such habits can help you establish a healthy routine and allocate time for personal well-being.
Track screen time
Mobile phones now have software that help you track how much time you spend with your gadgets. You can even track how much time you spend on individual apps. Moreover, apps like Facebook and Instagram have settings that let you lock them automatically after browsing them for a fixed period each day. Such settings prevent phone overuse while ensuring you enjoy the gadget’s benefits and features.
Use fitness apps
Today, there is an influx of fitness apps with built-in features that help you with everything, from calorie counting and meal planning to setting an exercise routine and getting started with different workouts. Such apps help incorporate health and wellness activities into everyday life and prevent potential lifestyle diseases like cholesterol and heart problems.
Use apps for mental health and meditation
The importance of mental health and well-being cannot be emphasized enough. With increasing awareness of the need for good mental health, several apps have emerged to help individuals take a breather from their hectic schedules and follow essential mental practices. For example, several apps have guided meditation audio and mood trackers to help you boost your emotional and mental well-being. Such apps can also ensure better sleep and lower stress levels.
Integrate your smartwatch with your phone
Gone are the days when watches were used only to tell the time. Today, they help people track fitness parameters, such as their average daily number of steps, sleep duration and quality, and heart rate. Such features help you ensure optimal physical fitness and track abnormalities like irregular heartbeat, ensuring a doctor is promptly consulted in such cases.
Capture the little moments
Life is full of precious little moments, which most of us often overlook amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. The market has many smartphones with exceptional camera features and lenses, which you can use to capture these little moments, creating a vibrant album of precious memories. Indulging in nature photography, clicking pictures with family and friends, and capturing the places you visit (even the local ones) are just some ways to utilize the camera feature of your smartphone.
Video call loved ones regularly
Interacting with loved ones over the phone is not restricted to audio calls. FaceTime, Duo, and other apps have facilitated undisturbed video calling, bringing individuals from different corners of the world face-to-face. So, make connecting with family members and friends over video calls a part of your daily routine. Such calls can help you stay in touch with your loved ones far away, ensuring fruitful relationships.
Download brain games
Brain games have been shown to enhance cognitive function and reduce the risk of mental health conditions like dementia. Both Android and iOS users can download and play brain games like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, chess, and checkers. Many websites also offer innovative and fun brain games that broaden your horizons. It helps to use these resources on your phone to challenge yourself and boost your problem-solving capability.
Use the phone to manage your finances
Managing multiple bank accounts and tracking your transactions can be a hassle. The good news is that mobile phone users can now integrate their bank accounts using banking apps for easy monitoring. These apps can also help you carry out various financial activities, including payment transfers, credit-card bill payments, increasing card limits, activating card features, and electricity and phone bill payments. Online payment apps also offer gift vouchers, cashback, and several other perks, motivating you to continue using these apps.
Use note-taking apps effectively
Note-taking apps can prove helpful in carrying out several everyday tasks, such as preparing grocery and to-do lists and maintaining a diary. Specialized note-taking apps also have advanced features like adding pictures and videos to your notes, fostering creativity. Compare different note-taking apps and download the one you like. Nowadays, most phones come with a built-in note-taking app, so ensure you try that before downloading another option.
Besides incorporating these healthy phone habits into your routine, avoiding certain practices, such as using the phone just before sleeping and not using the “dark” mode while viewing the phone at night, is vital. While giving up such habits can be challenging in the initial phase, it proves incredibly beneficial in the long run.
