What’s Healthy Cell Phone Use?

According to Consumer Affairs research in 2024 – Americans spend 4 hours and 30 minutes a day on their phone with email, photography, internet surfing covering 75%+ of our time. 

That’s up 52% from 2022 when 2 hours and 54 minutes was the average. (check out the research HERE)

Over a double time spent on the phones in just 2 years!

What’s another 2 years going to look like?

A review of 27 articles demonstrated consistent evidence between smart phone addiction and physical, mental and neurological health conditions. (Research HERE)

That’s scary. 

Chances are you’re reading this email on your phone right now. 

I’m not here to shame you – I’m glad you’re reading this right now.

When’s the last time you spent time without your phone?

Going phone-less for a little bit each day is freeing. 

But don’t get me wrong, I love listening to podcasts while walking and driving and I have certain apps that help me immensely. 

So how do you find a healthy balance between your phone, it’s apps and your sanity?

Start by assessing how much time you spend not on or away from your phone each day. 

Maybe you’re like my husband and you can’t find your phone half the time and if there was an emergency you would not be the one to call. 

I’m not worried about your phone usage one bit. 

/our

However, if you find yourself taking out your phone every time you’re waiting in line, scrolling your entire lunch and breaks, this may be a sign you need a little phone-free time. 

Or if you find yourself compelled to be on your phone while out to dinner, sitting in the passenger seat, or while hanging out in the living room with your family – you’re missing out on quality connection time. 

You could argue that everyone else is on their phone so that’s why you do it. 

What are you missing out on by having your nose in your screen?

Quality time to connect with others and yourself. 

Disconnection from self is, in my opinion, one of the main causes for mental health conditions. 

This week I sat down with my pal Michael O’Brien, creator of the Pause Breath Reflect app.  (check out our podcast by clicking the button below).

We had quite the conversation on why it’s crucial to disconnect from your phone and restore the art of conversation. 

What conversations are you missing out on or avoiding by using your cell instead?

While I’m not sure exactly how much cell phone use is healthy, I’m certain the rate of increased hours spent a day on the phone are not healthy.

Consider this – how could you offset your phone use to your health benefit – by say using a calming app or listening to a fun podcast – and then ditch it for longer during the day?

What would that look like for you?

Perhaps having a family conversation around cell use and considering ways to connect on a deeper level with more time spent enjoying each other’s company outside or playing games. 

I’m lucky to have a husband that would be content not to have a phone and he’s been a key player in making sure we spend our time together phone-less.

Who could be your phone-free accountability buddy?

Here’s to ditching the cell phones for a little bit each day, 

Dr. Jannine Krause

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