These days it can seem like electronics run our lives. We get home from a long day at work, sit down to check our emails and suddenly an hour has passed. Where does the time go? Electronics are useful, not to mention fun. But wasted time isn’t fun for anyone. Instead, maximize your screen time with this simple guide so you can get the most out of life.
Multi-tasking
There are some reality shows or bad sitcoms that we can’t help but tune into every week. Nothing wrong with that. But spending four hours a week staying caught up on American Idol isn’t the most useful way to spend an evening. Want to be productive and still not miss out on your favourite guilty pleasures? It’s simple — embrace multi-tasking. Instead of mindlessly staring at a scene you aren’t particularly interested in, fold some laundry or wash some dishes while you let it play in the background. Or, if you can’t bring yourself to turn away from the action, get as much done as possible during commercial time. Instead of watching that old car ad for the sixteenth time, put some dishes away or reorganize the hall closet. Just getting one thing done will help you feel like you were productive and still had fun.
Focusing
The biggest source of wasted time is all that mindless browsing we get sucked into. You sit down to check your emails and suddenly you find you’re on the 239th picture of your cousin’s best friend’s trip to Bermuda. Instead of plopping yourself down and virtually ensuring an hour of lost time, plan out what you have to get done before you turn on that screen. Make a mental list of what sites need your immediate attention, and maybe one or two fun things you wanted to check out. As soon as those items are accomplished — turn it off! You are not going to feel any more relaxed having spent multiple hours on Facebook. Get your surfing done in as prompt a fashion as you can manage so you can get back to the things that really matter — like catching up with family and friends.
Separation
No one needs to check their phone every two and a half minutes — so why do so many of us do just that? Habit. Now’s your chance to break it. Unless you are waiting to hear whether you got yourself that new kidney you need, there is no point in having your hand on your phone every hour of the day. Phones ring for a reason. Place your phone in a location where you can hear it and only attend to it if it calls for you. You will be able to go about your daily activities much more easily and you won’t waste your time reloading your emails for the umpteenth time.
There’s no denying that many aspects of our lives have been made easier by the arrival of electronics. So, doesn’t it make sense to use that saved time in fun and productive ways? Don’t lose any more of your life to mindless electronic use. Instead, maximize your screen time and get back to the things that really matter.
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