Photo Credit: Flickr 

By Melinda Looi

These days, nearly everyone has a mobile phone and many of us will ensure that we bring them everywhere we go. In public, people are seen looking at their phones during meal times, while waiting for public transport and even when they are out with friends. 

Many people enjoy checking their text messages on Whatsapp and also updating their social media posts. If we were told to not look at our phones for a day, we might get agitated, depressed and anxious as we have a habit to check our phones many times a day. 

Mobile phone usage can be pleasurable and addictive to us. If you experience any of the above, you might be addicted to your phone. There are several dangers that might arise due to mobile phone usage obsession. For instance, if you’re driving and you can’t resist the temptation to check your phone when you receive a text, you’ll most likely get into an accident. 

People who are addicted would also be using their phones and chatting away with their friends during meal times with family. This would result in a lack of physical socialising with family members. Some people would even be constantly checking their phones to the point of not getting enough sleep as they feel the desperate need to respond to every message immediately. 

As such, it would be wise if we could limit ourselves in how much time we use to check our phones. Try to not continuously check your phone when you’re about to go to bed and set boundaries on screen time when you are physically spending time with your loved ones and family. 

If you are still struggling, you could seek help by undergoing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The therapist would conduct treatment to replace your thoughts and behaviours into something healthy and positive. If we set a limit for our screen time, we would be able to achieve a healthy balance of our online and daily lives.  

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher