Beep, Beep. You reach into your pocket and pull out your cell phone. Send that quick response text and slip your phone back into your pocket only to pull it out minutes later. Is that a bad thing? According to a 2012 Time Magazine Survey, 84% of respondents who took a survey about cell phone usage said that “they could not go a single day without their cellphones.” We live in a world where pretty much everyone has a cell phone and there is a constant debate on whether we are slowly becoming too dependent on them or if we have found just the right balance.

It is very true that technology has dramatically changed the world in the recent past and it seems to be constantly improving the way we do just about everything. That small piece of technology that you can hold in the palm of your hand has the ability to connect you to almost anyone or anything in an instant.

The question is whether we are becoming too dependent on cell phones as a generation and ultimately how it could affect our future. The purpose of this blog is not to tell you that you should put down your cellphones forever because the reality is cellphones have almost become an essential part of our everyday lives. This blog is meant to give you tips on how to be less dependent on your phone. Here are a few ideas:

• Instead of instantly going to your phone when you’re bored, try finding a different activity to take up your time. Try writing, reading, sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, playing a new sport, finding a job, or even board games. You’d be amazed to find that there are so many things you can do to pass time and before you know it, you won’t even remember you have a cellphone.
• Plan to turn your cell phone off and all notifications (new email and text alerts) off at least one hour before you go to bed. Charge your phone outside of your room. Studies have shown that a part of your brain continues to respond to certain lights and sounds even while you’re still asleep. Sleep experts believe that in doing this, you can even improve the quality of sleep you get.
• If you feel like you can’t do it alone, ask for help! Ask someone in your house to take your phone from you for an hour each day. This will help you feel less tempted to reach for that phone as soon as you see it light up.

It may be easier said than done, but if you find your cell phone usage is becoming a problem for you or others, try and fix it. You can do it, you just have to be willing to try.

-Katlyn