Our cell phones connect us to everyone and anything with the touch of a button. You can text friends in an instant, post on social media, and learn new things by reading blog articles and viewing YouTube videos. With an entire universe on your cellphone, it can be difficult to put it down.
The question is, what’s the problem? With so much knowledge and the ability to connect at your fingertips, why not use your phone all the time?
Here are five convincing reasons to spend more time putting your phone down and paying attention to your surroundings instead.
You Could Get Into a Car Accident
If you’re driving and using your phone, you are putting your life in danger. Whether you’re texting, inputting information into your GPS, or skipping to the next song, taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can cause you to get into an accident with another car.
It’s not just other cars you can hit while you’re distracted at the wheel. Pedestrian fatalities increased by 53% over the last 10 years because drivers aren’t paying attention. You could crash into permanent installations, like light poles, and you could end up veering off into a ditch.
Do yourself and everyone else on or near the road a favor by staying off your phone while you’re driving.
You Could Get Into an Accident While Walking
You can get into a car accident when you’re busy on your phone while you’re driving, but you can also get into an accident if you’re using your cellphone while you’re walking.
In some cases, running into a pole or falling into a fountain may be funny for everyone else while it is embarrassing for you, but it also has the potential to injure you. If you aren’t paying attention to where you’re going because you’re busy texting a friend or catching up on your social media accounts, you could fall down a set of stairs, hit your head walking into a wall, or walk into oncoming traffic.
Put your phone down until you get to your destination, or at least turn on the talk to text feature so you can use your eyes to see where you’re going while texting.
It Can Cause Breakouts on Your Face
Phones have been found to be 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat. That’s a lot of germs that could make you sick, but that’s not all. Those germs could be bad for your skin too.
If you place the phone up to your face, and especially if you hold the phone against your cheek, germs from the last time you texted can be transferred to your skin. Those germs can irritate your skin and clog your pores, causing breakouts.
Cleaning your phone often can help, but it’s even better if you use your phone less. The less you use your phone, the fewer germs you’ll transfer to the screen.
You Could Get Carpal Tunnel in Your 20’s
Carpal tunnel is a fairly common problem among older adults. As more and more people spend time at a computer, it has become more common in middle aged adults. Because of texting, even teens are getting carpal tunnel.
The more you use your phone, the more strain you put on your wrists, and the more likely you are to end up getting carpal tunnel. It can cause numbness, tingling, and even pain any time you attempt to use your hands. Use your phone less and you can delay or prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.
It’s Bad for Your Mental Health
Using your phone has the potential to negatively impact your mental health. Not taking breaks away from texting and social media can contribute to:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Tech addiction
- Poor interpersonal relationships
- Suicide
The phone itself and what you do on it aren’t necessarily the problems. Instead, it’s more likely how much time you spend using your phone that can cause a decrease in your quality of life. Make it a point to put your phone down when you’re around others and consider scheduling times to use your phone so you don’t end up using it for hour after hour every single day.
Cellphones aren’t inherently bad. They have the potential to improve our lives in many ways! However, how we use our cellphones can have a negative impact on our health and well-being. Make it a point to put your phone down and live a healthier, more fulfilled life.