'I tried digital detox after hearing people look at their phone 344 times a day'

12 August 2023 , 15:56

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Screen addicts miss out on important things in life, says Rachael (Stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

When I went abroad last month I had a ­digital detox.

I took my old camera for holiday snaps but left my mobile in the hotel room safe, or switched it off during day trips. And when I bulk-checked my messages and emails I realised there was nothing important or urgent enough to warrant me looking at it every four minutes – or 344 times a day, as the average person now does.

My sore wrist and neck felt better, I read more books than I have in ages but also just sat taking in the scenery. Yet now I’m home old habits are creeping back and my phone is ­permanently at my side – calling me to check, just in case I’m missing something.

When the sad truth is we are ALL missing out on important things in life because of our screen addiction. A survey by Motorola UK found many Brits are suffering from phone fatigue and the way they rule our lives. Because when big events happen we grab our mobiles to capture the moment for posterity rather than experience it with all our senses.

Births, weddings, music gigs, sporting events, or visiting natural wonders – the average person now has 20 minutes of magical milestones recorded on their phones. But few ever look back and review the footage, six in 10 wish they could relive the occasion and 28% regret not feeling it fully the first time round. The phone brand’s Miles Norman said the research shows folk are “getting fatigued by over-consumption on their phones.”

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He said: “It’s important to capture key moments, but also to not live life through a lens and be more present in the moment. It’s about finding the right balance.” He’s right, and it’s refreshing to hear a phone boss say so – even though the survey was commissioned to launch Motorola’s new flip-shut phone. Because another study suggests our reliance on tech and instant messaging is killing off the art of conversation too.

One in six people now break big news, like engagements or pregnancies by text rather than in person, while one in five haven’t called a friend in more than three months. And 56% of people quizzed by ice manufacturer The Ice Co admit to actively ignoring calls from family and friends.

Of course, mobile phones aren’t inherently bad. They’re an indispensable tool of modern society. We can now use them for banking and shopping, travel and entertainment, research, health and dating. But while they’ve transformed the way we RUN our lives they should never stop us actually LIVING them.

Rachael Bletchly