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Smartphone Addiction – Unplugging More for 2015

Filed Under: BLOG, Blog Hop, Guest Post, Guest Posts, Life in General, New Years, Smartphones, Technology, Wonderful Wednesday, Word of the Year Tagged With: , ,

With 2015 finally here now and me desperately trying to take some time off during this past holiday season and then being sick, too, I can tell you now more then ever that I am more then slightly and sadly addicted to my iPhone.

Yet, I am truly going to try my best this year (not a bit resolution person, but still want to try to do better with this) to curb my smartphone addiction just a bit if I can (as the time off this past week has made me realize that I need to unplug more often).  I am known to whip out my iPhone where ever I am, even at the dinner table sadly.  So, I truly need to put down the iPhone more often then not for blogging, as well as in life in general more now and not just on a major holiday.

However, recently another writer sent me an info-graphic she created all about Smartphone Addiction and since I can as I said relate and agreed to have her demonstrate a bit about the smartphone addictions and her info-graphic, too here today.

Since I am not big on New Year’s resolutions, but do like the one word notions to describe the year ahead, I am more then happy to share that I am choosing ‘Unplugging’ more often after seeing how much it did make a difference during this past holiday season in my house.

[Tweet “Here is to unplugging more in #2015. #wordofthe year”]

But now I turn my blog today over to Amy Williams…

Let’s face it:  if you’re a mom like me, then you are addicted to your smartphone. With smartphones making up almost 2 billion of all cell phones in the world, you can be that every mom of little kids has one if at all possible. The smartphone, like that glass of wine poured after everyone is finally in bed, can rightfully be called “Mommy’s Little Helper.”

The Phone Saves Moms From Candyland

Candyland – and its cousin, Chutes and Ladders – are part of a conspiracy to drive mothers insane. Attracted by bright colors and incessant references to candy, every kid from birth to 6 years of age wants to play Candyland, while every mom agrees to play while trying not to tear her hair out from the sheer monotony of the game, broken only by needing to feed and diaper said children involved in the game.

Sometimes the kids can be distracted by the bright colors on the smartphone with one of those free preschool games beginning to appear in greater frequency, and I can close my eyes safely for 5 minutes while they play quietly beside me. Or, if your kids are like mine, they move on from Candyland in about three minutes after beginning to play it. But they come back to it two minutes after that, so I can catch about two minutes of smartphone time for a little sanity break in between chasing the kids down.

The Phone Keeps Us On The Move

No mom has time to sit down and look at the phone, except when she goes to the bathroom. As this is the only two or three moments alone from the kids and pets during the course of the day, the phone is definitely going with me.

The reason that the toilet is sometimes referred to as a “throne” is due to how the bathroom becomes the most sacred of spaces while the kids are little. First, there is a lock on the door. Second, the lock is one that is difficult for the kids to manipulate, making it almost impossible for said children to lock themselves in while I’m cooking dinner. And third, should one or more children lock themselves in, I can pick the lock and get them out in under 30 seconds.

Am I using the phone while I’m in the bathroom? Absolutely. For those few moments between when the kids realize that I am on the throne and come crashing into the door, “Mommy’s Little Helper” catches me up on the latest news and Facebook photos.

Turn My Kid into Bacon

And nothing can replace being able to snap those up-to-the-minute photos of the kids to post on various social media sites. Although my friends without kids have told me that they have installed apps that transform photos of children into strips of bacon because they get tired of all the kid pics. That’s fine, at least I have the memories on “Mommy’s Little Helper,” as the practice of growing humans inside of my body and then raising them has stolen all of my abilities to remember anything in the future.

If you’re a mom like me, there are really good reasons why we are addicted to smartphones. This isn’t to say we don’t make room for phone-free family time in my family–just that, above all else, striking a balance is key. The infographic provides more information on just how much we love “Mommy’s Little Helper.”

SmartphoneAddiction-145x1024

What do you think of the infographic? 

Can you relate and are you addicted to your smartphone, too?

Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions, yet?

Signature 2015

 

About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Bev says

    I had a couple weeks two years ago where I was in smartphone limbo. My old was in a shop being repaired and then I ended up getting a new one. In the meantime, I had an old-school cellphone. While I missed the map function, I realized it was a really nice break during that time not to have my smartphone. Will I ever permanently get rid of it? Probably not. But sometimes it’s nice to take a break from it 🙂 (But they are so darn addicting!)

  4. Seana Turner says

    I love the infographic, Janine. It is both funny, and dare I say, mildly convicting! And I can’t even use the excuse that it helps me distract the kids — it’s just me. Strange how quickly our phones (or “texters” as my husband calls them, since we rarely actually make calls with them) become so important to our everyday lives. And to think I ever survived without one!

    • Janine says

      Your husband is sadly so right and yes it is a “texter” here for sure. And I just don’t know how I lived without, but do need to remind myself at times I did and will be fine if I put it down once awhile (at least I keep telling myself this lol!).

    • Janine says

      Aww, thanks Diane and truly hope you check it out soon and trust me the iPhone and iPad has become quite a helper around these parts, especially when I was so very sick last week! 😉

  6. Brittnei says

    Balance is definitely important! I try to do that with screen time as well for my toddler. I think my daily responsibilities plus another hobby I have in crocheting keeps me more balanced with internet and screen time thankfully. Good for you Janine with focusing on unplugging at different points this year.

  8. Rosey says

    Oh Janine!! My husband takes his iTouch everywhere. And at the dinner table he’ll sometimes have his iPad propped up for sports scores and his iTouch in front of him for whatever he’s doing on the ‘net. It’s like he’s not even there. He’s not unique though… I see it in restaurants all of the time, even the Old, Old people are doing it now. I don’t like it. That being said, I’m the ONLY one in my family who doesn’t. I don’t let the kids bring their devices to the table (at home or in a restaurant) but they see dad with his…so it’s only a matter of time before they’re grown and are doing that too, I am afraid.

    Happy to meet your guest poster, and LOL at turning the kids into bacon!

    • Janine says

      Rosey, I am so the guilty party here and have set the bad example for all. That said I just have try better now as I really feel like I have become a bit too attached to it. And i know love that bacon comment 😉

  11. karen says

    Tony yells at me all the time about unplugging, but he is permanently attached to his laptop…so he can’t complain. I have been working hard on focusing more on Anthony and being in the moment.

    Thanks for hosting babe.

    • Janine says

      So happy to host and I know I get yelled at often enough by Kevin on this, but like you he is just as guilty as I am, but I am seriously trying to be more in the moment for sure now 🙂

  14. Janine says

    Christy, reading is a great addiction and so is Food Network shows for new recipes. I am seriously trying my best to read more again, as I did truly slack at the end of last year on that myself 🙂

  15. Chris Carter says

    You know you are addicted when you forget your phone and FREAK out for the hours you are away from it!! 🙂

    I have told myself on more than ONE occasion- to let it GO. I will do more of that this year as well.

  16. Jen says

    Janine and Amy this is fabulous! I love the infographic. Couldn’t agree more on the topic and conclusion. BTW- How many versions of Candy land do we need to have? There are like a million now! All intended do drive us parents mad, I say 🙂

    • Janine says

      Aww, thanks Jen and I know we have way too many copies of Candyland as we bought one originally and now the girls have gotten others from family and friends for birthdays and other holidays, too! 😉

  17. Kim says

    I like your choice of words for the year!! I actually carry around 2 smart phones all the time – my personal one and our business one (seemed easier to keep them separate). I’m good at ignoring my personal one but the boys know that I can’t not answer if the business phone rings.
    Great link-up – so many awesome posts here!!

    • Janine says

      Kim, I am not sure how I would function if I had two smart phones. Totally understand why you do, but still one is bad enough around here for me. And so glad you are enjoying the linkup, too 🙂

  18. Tamara says

    Wow, I got wicked distracted by pinning those links before I could get down here to comment. I pinned a bunch!
    Moving on, I saw the funniest comic recently of a guy sitting on the toilet and reading the back of a shampoo bottle or something like that and the caption is, “When you forget to bring your phone into the bathroom.”
    Makes me wonder how many people do that!
    The addiction is strong within me, although not during dinner.

  20. A.J. Cattapan says

    I just bought my first smart phone (an iPhone nonetheless) last February. Yeah, I’m a bit addicted, too. What’s that you say, you’ve got a question? Well, let me just whip out my iPhone and find an answer for you.

    Seriously, it’s a research geek’s dream. Answers are at our fingertips. Always.

  21. The Pinterested Parent says

    I am great at separating from my phone when we are out doing things, but when we are home. Ugh! I find myself on it constantly as well. I always promise to put it down as well, but I am naughty. I throw it on my charger, but then have to check it when I walk by. It is a bad addiction I think for many of us. Good luck.

  23. Rachel says

    I hate smartphones. I mean I love mine and use it all the time, but that is why I hate it. I think I am going to give mine up for Lent this year. I have a “dumb phone” for actual phone calls, but use my smartphone for all the neato apps and stuff. I DO NOT let the kids every play with it, as I am trying to fend off their addiction for a few more years at least!

    • Janine says

      Rachel, I would love to hear how it goes if you give your smartphone up for Lent. I admit I am not sure I could ever give it up for 40 days straight just hoping to curb my usage a bit more this year now.

  25. Alexa says

    I have found the only way to truly disconnect from my phone is to turn the sound off. Otherwise, every time I hear a buzz or a ding, I’m over there checking it, and once I’ve picked it up… well, who knows how long it will be before I put it down again! Good luck – I want to unplug more too this year!

    • Janine says

      Alexa, I do turn the sound off bow too as every ding too would drive me insane and also deleted a lot of my excessive subscriptions to big company emails so that has cut down on a bit of the emails at the very least. And good luck to you, too 😉

  27. Rea says

    OH GOSH! I can fully relate too!!!! I even use my phone camera as a mirror! LOL. Good to hear though that you chose UNPLUGGING as your word. I’ve tried that challenge before but didn’t quite succeed because of the new phone I got. Geez. Anyway, I know you can fight the temptation Janine! Good luck! 🙂

  28. Aunt Gloria says

    Good luck with your new year’s resolution. “Hiding” out in the bathroom for a few minutes of respite with your iPhone is OK. Dinner table….not so much. Anyway, have a great 2015! Love and xxoo

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