Do you know when you decide to take a break from work, five minutes, you say, but then you find yourself falling down the YouTube rabbit hole and before you know it, two hours have passed by and you’re still watching “what I eat in a day” vlogs?

Well, I do.

You see, is not that I’m lazy, or I don’t get stuff done and on time, because I do, but it wasn’t until I started freelancing that I became aware of how much time I spent looking at a screen.

Look –

I know what you’re thinking. That’s all well and good, but I need my phone/laptop to get work done!

I get it.

I work as a freelance writer, so most of my day is spent writing for my clients, branding my services and finishing blog posts. To complete all of these I need to be staring at a computer. I get it.

But let’s be real for a second – is it ALL of your screen time solely dedicated to work? Don’t you often get distracted with social media, or cute puppy videos?

I mean, it’s more than normal to get distracted. After all, the world of the internet is filled with stimuli of all sorts and you want to get to everything.

However, too much screen time can really damage your productivity, as well as your health.

So today I share with you three crazy simple ways you can reduce your screen time and get your life back on track.

3 crazy simple ways to reduce your screen time

1. Use an analogue alarm to wake up

So, what does an alarm clock has to do with all of this?

Well, hear me out.

You probably set up your alarm on your phone for every weekday, right?

This means that every time you wake up the very first thing you will be doing is checking your phone – even if it’s just to turn the alarm off.

This may seem harmful, but I can tell you from experience that it can be tempting to start checking your e-mails, social media and texts right away.

Before you know it, you have not even washed your face yet and you’re already all logged in.

To avoid this you can simply substitute your phone’s alarm for an analogue alarm clock.

You know, one of those that have minute and hour hands and looks especially cute on your bedside table.

This way you can stay away from your phone for a longer period of time and start your morning in a mindful place.

2. Consider taking social media out of your phone

Every time I admit to someone that I actually don’t have any social media on my phone, I hear gasps of horror – but how? How can you possibly live without checking your notifications, and scrolling through your instagram?

I never mean to sound pretentious, but my go-to answer is usually something in the likes of: Humm, I guess I spend my time doing something else?

We know that social media can be debilitating to our mental health, but we keep using it, because – like it, or not – it’s freaking addictive.

Sure, I see how it can also be beneficial to answer your e-mails faster, or see what your friends are up to, but just the squeaky sound of a notification can trigger my anxiety.

I immediately panic about all of my unread e-mails and the deadlines that are approaching – it’s too much for me.

This doesn’t mean that you cannot have a healthy relationship with your smartphone, you sure can, but by taking some apps out, you can minimize distractions and reduce your screen time.

3. Reconnect with nature

Imagine this. You live in a big and crowded city. Every day, thousands of people walk by on the streets. You work in this city and your office is on the eleventh floor of a very narrow skyscraper.

At this moment, you’re at work, looking at your computer and feeling incredibly frustrated. Until…

…you look out of the window.

You look out and see the park, the trees, the bushes, a child playing with a dog and this image makes you happy, you feel calmer, less frustrated, more relaxed.

Have you ever wondered why that happens? What is it about nature that makes us feel good?

Well, I’m no scientist, but many academics have studied the effects of nature on humans and came to some pretty incredible conclusions.

It turns out that being outside not only guarantees you your daily dose of vitamin D, but it can also positively affect your mood.

Studies have shown that spending 15 minutes in the woods can reduce the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.

So, reconnecting with nature is a simple step to reduce your screen time, take five and relax for a bit. You’re giving your eyesight a break and your mental health will thank you too.

Do you spend a lot of time on your phone? Share bellow some of your tips to reduce screen time!

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