Building good online habits

Stepping into the new year, many of us made high-reaching goals and resolutions promising ourselves we would manage our screen time. However, you may have discovered that you have been spending 16 hours instead of the set 5, and mindlessly scrolling on social media instead of picking up a new hobby like you promised. It’s okay, we have all been there. Don’t worry; I’ll arm you with all the tips you need to ensure your screen time reaches an all-time favorable low.

Firstly, let's set a more realistic, SMART goal. I mean, if you spend 12 hours a day on your phone, setting a goal of 2 hours seems a bit unrealistic at the moment. However, reaching for the stars is always admirable! SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

A specific goal would be to decrease my screen time from 12 hours to 7 hours daily. I should be able to achieve this within 2 weeks. This means that over 2 weeks, you would slowly see a decrease in your screen time. Since we have set a concise goal, we must understand how to get there.

How can I reduce my screen time?

On most devices, you can check the apps you spend the most time on. For people like me, TikTok would probably be unhealthily high. Before you check them, though, you need to make a strong commitment to stick by your goal. After checking it, you need to highlight what you do on the apps with the highest screen time. For example: Am I spending time on TikTok to learn a new skill? Is it for relaxation? Then, you need to set a screentime goal for each app and what you want to use them for. Using apps for entertainment, or even school, is never wrong, but spending lengthy periods on them can gobble up time you could have used for more productive or relaxing activities.

Next, you need to set up your screen timer. If you have an iPhone, it should be easy enough. It sets the limits for each app and the daily screen time you can have for it. This is an added feature that can help you stick to your goal.

Remember the hobbies we spoke about last year? This is the time to implement them. Instead of reaching for your phone, beading friendship bracelets or crocheting cool pieces can give you a strong sense of accomplishment. You could learn how to ride a bike, read or write a book, cook a new meal, or bake some tasty treats alongside your family members. There are a plethora of hobbies you can find online, but remember to pick one that resonates and intrigues you. This way, it keeps you engaged and helps you resist the strong pull of the smartphone's siren.

With reduced screen time, you can be more in touch with yourself by journaling. This gives your eyes and brain the much-needed rest they deserve, ultimately benefiting you. In a busy world like ours, finding ways to slow down helps you to reset and find out who you truly are outside of external influences. Journaling, however, doesn’t need to be boring or the same every day. You can find interesting daily prompts on Pinterest or TikTok that make you giggle as you fill up the pages of your book. Here’s a prompt for you: If you owned a restaurant and each meal represented an emotion, i.e, disgust, what would the dishes look like? What would you serve?

I hope you feel more prepared to face the battle, and just know a 16-year-old Nigerian is cheering for you across the globe.