This is from the study conducted....
across the U.S. and Canada worked with 467 iPhone users (average age 32) to test how removing constant internet access would affect their daily lives. Instead of asking people to give up their phones completely, the study took a more practical approach.
Ok. So, I did say in the title to switch it off completely because we need better and faster more impactful results. Don't we? But if you want an practical approach (because we can't live without smartphone and internet, they are more than life and we are all slaves!), we can at least cut our usage to half, yes we can because most of the time we're just scrolling.
But if we can, somehow.
The results were significant. After two weeks without mobile internet, participants showed clear improvements in multiple areas. They reported feeling happier and more satisfied with their lives, and their mental health improved—an effect size that was greater than what is typically seen with antidepressant medications in clinical trials. They also performed better on attention tests, showing improvements comparable to reversing 10 years of age-related cognitive decline.
What's more interesting that two weeks of cut in internet usage has successfully formed a habit and..
Even after getting internet access back, many participants kept their usage lower and continued feeling better.
And there are people who remain online for FOMO. I'm not one of them ;). This disconnection from internet actually performed like a digital detox and they improved their well being than deteriorate it.
This suggests that constant access to social media and online updates may fuel digital anxiety rather than relieve it.
And finally the takeaway..
reducing mobile internet access—even temporarily—can help improve well-being, mental health, and focus. While not everyone is ready to disconnect completely, finding ways to limit our online exposure could make us happier, healthier, and more present in our daily lives.
If you ask me, I actually never let past my screen time go beyond 6 hours. For this I've attempted a bunch of things:
-
I've stopped using most of Social Media, no fb, no whatsapp, no reddit, watch YT not exceeding half an hour.
-
I switch off my cell phone for hours, depending on work I'm doing. For example I switch it off (or at least silent it), while eating, working out, while on excursion, reading etc.
-
I use my phone's ultra power saving mode with only a few apps, so not to be distracted by unimportant notifications or messages.
What about you?
Do you trace your screen time daily?
Did you ever attempt to cut it, and how?