It’s no secret that today our lives revolve around our phones – whether we are checking emails for work, jumping on calls, or getting sucked into hours of scrolling through social media. It’s overwhelming sometimes seeing that notification pop up on your phone saying “you’ve reached you time limit” for an app or the notification that tells you how much time a day you actually spend staring at your phone.. I don’t know about you, but I’ve recently started to make a concerted effort to decrease my screentime.
I’m not just talking phone screen time – I’m talking Laptop post-work and binge watching reality TV. Getting sucked into the black mirror we live in continues to become easier and easier, which means it’s time to take back control and let go of the hold our phones have on us!
If you are looking to decrease your screen time and get outside to enjoy some of the beautiful Spring weather that May brings, then keep on reading!
Plan Weekly Outdoor Walks with Your Friends
Instead of scrolling through social media aimlessly, get in your group chat and schedule a weekly walk with your friends. If you are new here, you should know I love and am a strong advocate for hot girl walks. They are great for both your physical and mental health and they keep you off your phone – especially if your friends are with you! Spend time chatting and catching up in real life while leaving your phone in your back pocket. If you are new to hot girl walks and getting outside, I can’t recommend picking up a pair of Hoka Mach 5 sneakers enough – they are comfy and cute!
Read Outdoors Instead of Scrolling
One of the main reasons why I get stuck in a doom scroll on my phone is because I am looking to disconnect from the stress around me – whether it be work stress or real life stress. If you find yourself staring at a screen all day looking to escape, why not pick up a great book and get lost in that instead? Reading not only passes time quickly, but if you take the book outside and set up shop in the sun, you’re breathing in the fresh air and maybe getting a nice tan while you’re at it. Getting off your phone and getting outside doesn’t always have to involve physical activity. I am currently obsessed with Lucy Score’s ‘Things We Never Got Over’ Series and if you need a series to get lost in, I think you should check these out!
Plant a Garden
Looking to get off your phone, reduce screen time, and also spruce up the exterior of your home? Plant a garden! Get that green thumb on and start by planting some beautiful flowers to bring some brightness to your home. Maybe you aren’t a flower person – go ahead and plant a vegetable garden so you have fresh vegetables to cook with dinner every night! The best thing about gardening is that you have to tend to your flowers, plants, or vegetables daily – which means putting that phone away, getting outside, and decreasing your screen time. My mom is a huge gardener and I just bought her these super cute gardening gloves – check them out, they might be a little extra motivation you need to get started on your garden!
Make Time for a Bike Ride
First things first, bike riding is a great form of exercise. If you are finding yourself becoming a couch potato on your phone than this may be the option for you. Plus it is super difficult to scroll and bike ride so it seems like a no brainer to pick up biking to help get you off your phone. There are multiple different types of bikes that you can get into. Mountain Biking is fun because it is like off-roading but on a bike, depending on where you live this can be an exciting and adventurous hobby to pick up. If you’re looking for something active but a little more subtle, you can be like me and pick up a beach cruiser. It’s perfect to ride around town and much more laid back than a mountain bike. Beach Cruisers also come in super cute colors, like this white and tan one I use daily!
Incorporate Running or Walking into Your Morning Routine
We can’t forget that it is May and that the weather is continuing to get better and better. Getting outside first thing in the morning gives you the energy you need to make it through the day. I consistently fall into traps of waking up and immediately grabbing my phone to check texts or notifications I may have missed from the night before. It has been a game changer to take back control of my mornings and first thing wake up, throw on my amazing lululemon aligns dupes, and go on my morning walk. There’s no need to wake up and instantly grab your phone when the first thing you look forward to is getting outside, breathing in some fresh air, and moving your body!
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