Nine in 10 American adults have a cellphone, according to data released in January by the Pew Internet Research Project. Almost 60 percent have a smartphone, and 42 percent of us have a tablet.
And… 29 percent of cell owners actually describe their mobile devices as “something they can’t imagine living without.”
Gut check – Do you feel a kind of thrill whenever you receive a text or email? Do you get “endo’s” (endomorphins) every time you hear that text ‘ding’? Nothing wrong with that, just realize that it is really a “thing.” Here’s why…
Your brain is at work even if you think it isn’t. Every time you check your phone and find a message, your brain responds with a surge of dopamine, the feel-good chemical that contributes to our sense of well-being. Because this is a good feeling, it is understandable why we keep checking.
The challenge is – is it getting in the way of other things that are important to you? If the answer is NO. Stop here, read no more.
But if the answer is YES, then your cell phone may be toxic to you.
Anything that continually or repeatedly gets in the way of our ability to work, live, love, and enjoy life can be considered toxic. The distractions can be roadblocks to your success.
Sometimes you can diagnose this yourself. But if you find people repeatedly commenting on your cell phone use, or if your kids throw your cell phone in the toilet, pay attention. According to wikihow, here are some ways to take control:
- Monitor your cell phone use.
- Create a plan for your phone use.
- Offer yourself rewards for less time spent on your phone.
- Start slow.
- Put your phone away.
- Take a cell phone holiday.
- Change your phone settings.
- Change your thinking about your cell phone.
- Focus on the here-and-now.
Just remember, ANYTHING that gets in the way of you achieving your goals might be toxic to you, and it seems that these darn cell phones could be reaching a success-busting epidemic. What do you think?
