Technology continues to advance and so does society’s love of it! It seems as though people cannot put their phones down or step away from their other screens. From computers to iPads to phones, we are all staying connected—all the time. 

There is always one more email to check. One more website to visit. Or, one more post to like. Does this describe you? In your spare moments are you instinctively reaching for your phone? (And it is a moment of unrest, if not terror, if you can’t find your phone, right?) If you have children, you might be using technology to keep them entertained. Well, you are not alone. We are all hooked. Technology use is on the rise. And so are tech addictions. 

Adam Alter, Associate Professor of Marketing at the New York University Stern School of Business and author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked says tech addictions are behavioral, “It’s basically something that you want to do a lot compulsively. So, in the short term, it’s something that you want to do that in the long term undermines your wellbeing in at least one respect.” 

The good news is there are numerous ways to reclaim your day, your evening, and your life. 

According to Alter, various interventions could help such as, limiting your use of email when you are not at work. The best change to make is establishing barriers between times when using screens and when not. Unfortunately, most people keep their phone within reach, making it too easy to grab and use. Another good idea is creating spatial distance away from your phone. Create rules such as “no phones at the dinner table or in the bedroom.” 

It’s essential to allow yourself a chance to replenish if you are going to do your best work. 

Technology is a part of life, we know this. The key is to manage the use of technology so it continues to be a benefit and not a detriment. If you are addicted to tech, today is the day to take a step back and decide on some changes to reclaim your life! If you would like to hear my entire conversation with Adam Alter, head over here to listen.