You’ve probably been aware of the “technology craze” and millennials’ addiction to social media and texting for quite some time. The problem is, many of us don’t think of ourselves as addicts. To be honest, I’ve found myself in this position recently. I always thought I had it under control, but once I started thinking about it, I realized I spent a lot more time on my phone than I thought I should. I followed three helpful tips to break my addiction and live more in the moment:

1. Go Cold Turkey: My roommate challenged herself this past semester to go an entire week without social media and text messaging. The difficulty of this proved just how much we rely on technology, often subconsciously. However, the challenge allowed her to be resourceful in finding other fun things to do as well as more focused on schoolwork.
2. Set Timers: Going cold turkey for a long period of time can be extreme, but something I’ve found very helpful is setting timers for myself so I won’t use my phone. I found this especially helpful during finals week; I would set an alarm for thirty minutes in which I couldn’t use my phone. This motivated me to study and feel accomplished when I made it through the timer. I’ve also said things to myself like, “I’m not allowed to use my phone until I make my bed and fold my laundry.” Having specific tasks to complete or lengths of time set, makes it a lot easier to put your phone down and feel proud of yourself afterwards. Not only does it help your addiction, but it motivates you to do chores and study!
3. Use it as a Reward: Similar to the second step, waiting to use social media and your phone as a reward makes it all the more satisfying. Even if you’re in a boring class, hold off on using your phone until it ends. This will allow you to think of technology as a reward rather than something you need to check every spare second you get.

                 Trust me, breaking your technology addiction isn’t easy at first. Gradually lengthening the amount of time you want to go without using Instagram or texting may get you the best results. On the other hand, going cold turkey may shock you into realizing the extent of your obsession. If you combine all three of these steps, you’re on the right path to a more balanced life!