We carry our phones around everywhere, but always being connected has costs: In one survey 82% of people said smartphones have hurt their ability to converse with others and 89% said their devices have resulted in chronic physical pain. It’s important to set boundaries around technology — and you don’t have to go on an all-out “digital detox” to do it. Try small experiments: Leave your phone behind when you go to lunch or take a walk. Set a time limit for how long you’ll scroll through Instagram or Twitter, especially at bedtime. And when the time’s up, put your phone away — not on your bedside table but a short walk away from your bed or even in the other room. Giving yourself these needed breaks away from screens will help you see that you don’t need your phone with you, regardless of how much it may feel that way.
Adapted from "Device-Free Time Is as Important as Work-Life Balance," by Charlotte Lieberman
