Q&A #7 | How can I stop mindlessly picking up my phone?
Today's reader asks how to stop picking up their phone in line, in the waiting room, and during every lull of the day.
Let me set a scene. You’re a few weeks or months into cutting out your worst social media vice. Maybe it was Instagram, maybe TikTok, maybe YouTube. Maybe all of the above. Whatever it was, you’re doing good. You are shocked to find that you barely miss it at all.
So, you’re enjoying a nice Spring day. You’re observing the gorgeous world around you on your walk to the coffee shop. It’s officially cold-brew season. You walk into the shop, and there’s a line. A long line.
No bother, there’s plenty of people-watching to do. Yet, a few minutes pass by, and you find yourself impulsively reaching for your phone. You overcome the urge, but another minute passes, and the impulse returns. Before you even make it to the counter, you’re picking up your phone and find yourself checking the most inane apps. Weather? Zillow? Checking the time in Australia on your World Clock?
This scenario can play out in countless ways. Instead of the coffee shop, it’s the doctor waiting room, or the lobby at your office building, or sitting at a restaurant waiting for a friend to return from the restroom.
It can feel frustrating to still harbor this urge despite all your progress, but it’s altogether a normal part of the process. Today’s reader question gets at the core of how to combat this impulse and live with a bit more peace in those little lulls of your day.
Before we dive in, a reminder that today’s essay is a paid subscriber exclusive. If you’d like to submit a question to be answered in a future installment, message me or submit a question on the chat.