Thread by @coinconfess

It is #MentalHealthMonday.

If you are reading this, and are honest with yourself, you likely overdose on screen time.

We all do. And it's awful for us.

Here are 5 ways I cut my screen time down by more than 3 hours a day (some more drastic than others).

🧵👇

2/ Most people spend 8-12 hours a day looking at a screen, 5x that of our family of 50 years ago.

It is destroying our brains.

It takes recognizing the addiction and applying extreme discipline to make sustainable changes.

Here are 5 things I did 👇

3/ 1. Set a goal and monitor your data.

Like exercise, you are far more likely to find success if you set achievable goals and monitor your progress utilizing data.

Mine was cutting 3 hours a day.

Mobile devices, laptops, and even many TVs provide detailed screen time data.

4/ 2. Charge your mobile devices in a neutral room at night (not in your bedroom).

I charge my phone in my kitchen.

his prevents me from grabbing my phone first thing in the morning.

Being prevented from doing so reminds me of my addiction right from the get-go.

Top of mind.

5/ 3. Utilize a Timed Lock Box to retrain your brain

When my screen time numbers start to rise, I often use the below lock box to force change

As you start to control your cravings, you can slowly reduce usage

Sometimes addiction requires strong tools

amazon.com/Mindsight-Port…

6/ 4. Perform focused activities without your phone.

Ever felt panic when you thought you left your phone at home or worse, lost it?

Isn't that crazy?

Try performing routine activities such as going to the gym, eating a meal, or short errands without your phone on you.

7/ 5. Set TV episode limits.

"I will only watch 2 episodes a night of.." works a lot better than "I will only watch 2 hours of.."

Using episode limits has a far greater success rate because it is far more finite of an event. You know when it happens.

I watch 2 a night only.

8/ Ultimately, reducing screen time dependency is driven by 3 things:

1. Removing/reducing access to screens
2. Keeping the addictive behavior top of mind
3. Measuring your progress

It starts with a commitment to improving your health.

Ok, I am getting off my screen.

TLDR: Reduce screen time by:

1. Set a goal and monitor your data.

2. Charge your mobile devices in a neutral room at night (not in your bedroom).

3. Utilize a Timed Lock Box to retrain your brain.

4. Perform focused activities without your phone.

5. Set TV episode limits.