Phones and social media have become a part of everyday life. They are seemingly unavoidable and we are all probably guilty of spending too much time browsing. As a blogger, it is easy to spend hours using my phone for my blog and personal accounts. Especially since finishing university, it is even easier to spend my day looking through various social media apps. However, I want to try to stop using my phone as much so I thought I would share some alternative things to pass the time instead of using a phone.
BLOGGING
One of the most obvious things I can do instead of using my phone or social media is blogging. There is always so much you could be doing when you run a blog. I’m still trying to get back into the swing of keeping up with my blog again after taking a rather long break but I am enjoying it a lot. Writing posts is still my favourite part of blogging and is why I really love this platform. Writing a post is so much more fulfilling than scrolling aimlessly on social media!
READ
Now that I’ve finished university, I have so much more time for reading. Currently I’ve been working my way through so many amazing books and it’s so nice to actually have the time to read. It can be so easy to sit down and scroll but actively putting the phone down and picking up a book is so much more worthwhile. It’s a great way to cut down on screen time, relaxes you and I have read so many great books recently!
COOKING + BAKING
Baking has never been a particular strong point of mine but I seem to have nailed some basic cupcakes now which is a start. Generally speaking I do enjoy baking and cooking and it can be a great way to pass the time if you don’t have anything to do. Finding a new recipe to try out or something to bake passes the time and gives you something delicious at the end of it (which is way more than your phone can do).
EXERCISE
Perhaps not the most popular of alternative things to do instead of using your phone or social media but it is something. Recently I’ve found that during the afternoon slump when I’m not sure what to do with myself I’ve started doing some home workouts. It stops me from sitting and scrolling and boosts my energy levels so is a win all round. EM K Fit’s dance ABBA workout has been my favourite for a while now too.
GET CRAFTY
I have had a scrapbook for over 10 years now and it is still one of my favourite things to do. I love when I have collected enough stuff to update it and spending an afternoon adding to it is so much fun. Embroidery has also become a little hobby of mine and is also good at stopping me from scrolling all day as my hands are occupied! There are so many little crafty activities around that there will always be something you can try. Even if its not for you it’s a good way to stop the phone usage for a little while.
START A JOURNAL
A while ago I started bullet journalling and shared my first spread. I haven’t been the best at keeping up with it but it is incredibly satisfying to create. I am not an artist at all but there’s something quite therapeutic when starting a new spread. You can personalise it completely to your needs and tastes and it’s a good way to reflect and look forward that it’s a really satisfying hobby too.
There we have 6 alternative things you could instead of aimlessly scrolling. I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort recently to stop using my phone as much and start taking time out to do other activities. I think we can all be guilty of claiming we don’t have the time to do a lot of these activities but in reality, putting down the phone can give us so much more time in the day. It’s so easy to become addicted to the scrolling and wanting to stay updated on everything but it’s just as nice to stop all that and take time out to do activities that you want to try and make time for.
What do you do when you want to stop using your phone as much? Do you have any alternative activities to social media scrolling?
I always use my phone when exercising (on the treadmill) but I do like to put my phone away when I’m blogging, it allows me to concentrate a lot better! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I use my phone far too much 🤦♀️ Blogging is a great way for me to stop using my phone – I leave Twitter and Pinterest for my laptop so that eliminates 2 apps at least! Really useful tips x
Its so good to put your phone down and concentrate on something else, isn’t it?! I often put my phone away when I am crafting, although I like to document it, so it doesn’t stay away for the whole time haha!
Great ideas of what to do instead, I need to do more reading!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
I recently got into embroidery when making diy patches for a friend’s birthday! So now I have a new hobby away from my phone and I love it! Admittedly, I do find that it’s much more fun with a TV show or a podcast on in the background, so I’m not entirely screen free but it’s definitely better than doom scrolling through Twitter 😂
Haha yes I agree!
I bought everything I need to start baking and my first attempts failed. Sunken cake is no fun. I must try again. Great article!
Thank you!
These are all great suggestions on how to stay off your phone! I try to limit my time on mine and definitely will stay off it after dinner. Thank you for sharing these helpful tips!
These are fantastic tips Tash! I use my phone way too much. I’m somewhat addicted to it and anything that would distract me from using it is always welcomed. Blogging and journalling are hobbies for me and they always help distracts me from my phone. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for reading!
This is a fab reminder to put my phone down and do other things. It’s so easy just to reach for our mobiles and scroll, etc so I am going to make sure I rethink how I’m using it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading!
Great suggestions! I like playing animal crossing on Nintendo Switch. I definitely need to take time away from social media
I am still yet to try Animal Crossing!
Great post. After Christmas I decided that I needed to stop being on my phone so much, it was becoming really unhealthy. I invested in loads of books with sequels and powered my kindle up with loads of free books. Instead now I pick up my books and give them a few pages rather than scrolling endlessly!
rosie
That’s such a great idea!
I do a lot of these things apart from crafts (because I’m useless at them!) It’s hard to stay off my phone when blogging is my job but I am setting more boundaries for it because I don’t want to be staring at my phone 24 hours a day!
Haha, I am also useless at crafts but I love trying them!
I have realised I am on my phone a lot throughout the day and I definitely need to put it down more. Blogging is one of the best ways to keep occupied. I love EMK Fit YouTube videos, they are so fun! X
They are – I love her workouts!
I really need to work hard on this! I use my phone too much. But blogging and baking are definitely great distractions for me. Thank you for sharing these x
I am definitely guilty of doing the same, haha!
True! These are the things to do to prevent you from too much screening. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
as a blogger, it’s quite the challenge to balance social media & other activities. i feel like my routine revolves around it! but like you, i tend to spend time just writing / brainstorming blog posts away from my phone or laptop. i’ll even just write out ideas in a journal to have a break from the digital world.
Yes I do the same, it’s so nice to have a break from a screen sometimes!
I love these ideas. Particularly as I’m trying not to use tech before bed. Reading is my go-to for a wind down before bed. But I love to bake or try out new recipes
Thank you for reading!
Hello! I love this post so thank you for sharing. I lost my phone a few months ago and bought a really rubbish phone for a while and it’s helped me not use it, as it’s terrible haha, but I am able to blog a lot more. Alicia