I’m spending less time on my phone. Now what? |
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| Illustration: Fran Caballero |
 | By Isoke Samuel Isoke is a newsletters coordinator at Wirecutter. |
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In the beginning of that liminal week between Christmas and New Year’s, I woke up late, stayed up late, and spent most of the day … scrolling. Videos of strangers’ holiday gift hauls, reactions to Stranger Things, AI-generated cats displaying cute but unrealistic behavior. My brain felt warm and fuzzy and only a little bit rotten. I had earned this, after many weeks of neglecting my small (fun) screen for my big (work) screen. But on my third day of looking up from my phone only to notice the sun setting, it was time to rein myself in.
I cannot tell you which method for staying off your phone will work for you personally, but my colleagues have a few suggestions. Writer Elissa Sanci swears by Bricking, aka using this tiny physical device to temporarily block distracting apps. (Head of newsletters Sofia Sokolove blames her Brick for her decision to impulsively paint her entire living room — don’t say we didn’t warn you.) Writer Ellen Lee started using an app that makes her do five squats before she can open Facebook or Instagram. And if you have an iPhone, our tech experts have instructions for how to use the screen time setting to create limits for specific apps.
What I can tell you, though, is that the days I didn’t spend scrolling over the holidays felt far more relaxing than the ones I did. Sometimes just having a tangible North Star on the other side of our screens (a new hobby, a daily walk, a project you’ve been putting off) can get us to look up and put our phones down. So if you, too, are trying to reclaim some of that stolen scrolling time, here are a few places to start:
- Read for fun: It might sound simple, but special projects director Christine Cyr Clisset uses one of Wirecutter’s favorite reading lights to ditch her phone and get back to reading paper books. No more drifting from app to app when she intends to be reading an ebook.
- Play a cozy video game: Manage a medieval tavern, open a secondhand bookstore, or cultivate a vibrant community on a desert island all from your couch. These laid-back and slow-paced games are a great way to unwind while still having fun. Personally, I’ve been playing Stardew Valley, and my farm is thriving, thank you very much.
- Learn a new language: Our favorite language learning app (yes, it’s the one you think it is) uses all the dirty tricks that social networks use to make you love them — but for the virtuous purpose of helping you learn.
- Become someone who journals: Journaling can help unlock creative potential and navigate life’s challenges. Our experts have recommendations for both physical and digital ones. And if you don’t know where to start, author Suleika Jaouad recently shared her journaling best practices on The Wirecutter Show.
- “Oh, this? I made it”: Newsletters coordinator Allyson Waller, who spent her holidays crocheting bookmarks for her friends, says that “seeing the joy on their faces when I told them I made it by hand was truly priceless.” Our expert’s favorite all-in-one fiber crafts kits can help you get started knitting a scarf, needlepointing a pouch, or even latch-hooking a rug. And for veteran crafters, perhaps this smiley face tape measure might inspire some new projects?
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Plus: How to help your kids manage their screen time |
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| Ruthie Darling/NYT Wirecutter |
Our expert says parental-control tools are like “training wheels” that help kids and teens build healthy tech habits. After testing 14 different options, we found the three best for keeping kids safer online.
The best parental control apps for managing screen time→
One last thing: Bring back fun phones |
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| Source photos by Octobuddy, Bandolier, Brenda Stolyar/NYT Wirecutter |
Just because you’re using it less doesn’t mean your phone can’t be stylish. Our smartphone expert found nine fun and functional accessories reminiscent of whimsical, personalized add-ons of the past. Phone purse, anyone?
Plus, a quirky cardholder and a phone case that holds lip gloss→
And if your screen time is just fine, well, congrats. Here’s how to use your phone to make your life better.
You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
