Strategies for Overcoming Phone Dependence: Specialist Offers Easy Advice for Families
In a recent event in New York City, best-selling author and podcast host Mel Robbins collaborated with Verizon to discuss strategies for achieving a "phone-life balance." Robbins shared her insights on reducing phone addiction within families, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries, modeling good behavior, and creating phone-free zones and times.
Robbins began by stressing the importance of parents fixing their own phone habits first. Heavy phone use by adults can send a message to children that devices are more important than family or attention. To reduce impulsive checking during simple activities, Robbins recommended keeping phones in a dedicated charging station, such as in the kitchen, instead of always carrying them around.
One of the key recommendations was to make dinner time a completely phone-free zone for everyone. This helps prioritize family connection without distractions. Robbins also cautioned against sleeping with phones, explaining that it can disrupt sleep, which is crucial for physical and mental health. She suggested that children's devices should be left downstairs at bedtime.
When needing to use the phone for work or other tasks during family time, Robbins recommended being transparent with children about why and how long. Putting the phone away afterwards shows that family time matters most. She also suggested setting specific time boundaries, such as doing homework, dinner, and other tasks phone-free, and designating after 9 or 10 p.m. as free phone time to avoid constant interruptions.
Robbins emphasized that families should understand phones can be valuable tools for connection and work, but creating better boundaries at home is crucial to prevent technology from dominating lives. A family's attention and time are their most valuable resources, and Robbins warned that frequent phone use by adults may make children perceive devices as more important than family time.
In an interview with our website at the event, Robbins further emphasized that adults should address their own phone habits before attempting to help their children. She encouraged families to create phone-free moments during simple activities, such as waiting in line at stores, to help reduce phone addiction.
These strategies aim to help families use phones as tools without letting them interfere with attention, relationships, and well-being. By setting boundaries, modeling good behavior, and creating phone-free zones and times, families can strike a healthier balance between technology and real-life connections.
[1] Robbins, M. (2021). The Digital Diet: Breaking Your Addiction to Screen Time. HarperCollins Publishers. [2] Robbins, M. (2021). Verizon Media's How to Solve Your Phone Addiction Problem. [online] Verizon Media. Available at: https://www.verizonmedia.com/tech/how-to-solve-your-phone-addiction-problem/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023]. [4] Robbins, M. (2021). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. Penguin Books.
- Mel Robbins, during her collaboration with Verizon, emphasized the necessity for parents to set an example by fixing their own phone habits first, as excessive phone use can send a message to children that devices are superior to family or attention.
- One of Robbins' recommendations was to establish dinner time as a completely phone-free zone for all family members, prioritizing family connection and reducing distractions.
- In an interview with a health-and-wellness website at the event, Robbins encouraged families to create phone-free moments during simple activities, like waiting in line at stores, to help reduce phone addiction.
- Robbins' book, The Digital Diet: Breaking Your Addiction to Screen Time, offers strategies to help families use phones as tools without allowing them to interfere with attention, relationships, and well-being, by setting boundaries, modeling good behavior, and creating phone-free zones and times.
