My Experience with the Screen Time Challenge (Part 3)

In this segment, I aim to share my personal reflections throughout this screen time challenge. I embarked on this journey in 2021. The previous year, I found myself endlessly scrolling through social media, keeping up with world events. Therefore, I decided to limit my phone usage by utilizing the Screen Time feature.

If you own an iPhone like I do, simply navigate to Settings and customize your screen time to your preference. As mentioned in earlier posts, I began with a five-hour limit for a week, gradually reducing it to just fifteen minutes each week. Committing to this challenge requires determination, but if you're keen on testing your limits, the Screen Time feature is readily available. You can set any duration that suits you—just don’t overburden yourself!

For those unfamiliar, here's how the Screen Time interface appears:

Weekly Overview of Screen Time

Pros and Cons of the Screen Time Challenge

Here’s a breakdown of the benefits and drawbacks I encountered while participating in the Screen Time Challenge.

Advantages:

• Increased productivity
• Reduced time spent on social media
• Enhanced interactions with family and friends
• Greater awareness of my surroundings
• Less time wasted on inappropriate content
• A sense of freedom and reduced distractions
• Enjoyment in challenging myself
• Improved self-discipline
• A deeper appreciation for life

Disadvantages:

• It can be quite challenging
• Boredom may arise without engaging activities
• Reduced time for watching entertaining videos or playing games
• Using a laptop can be cumbersome compared to a phone
• Desire for relaxation may conflict with limits
• Others may wish to borrow your phone for calls or navigation
• Tracking screen time can be stressful
• Feeling guilty for exceeding set limits
• Phone usage sometimes serves as a distraction from my thoughts

Despite the cons outweighing the pros, I believe it’s worth the effort to limit screen time.

To monitor my screen time, I created an Excel spreadsheet starting in June. Here’s a glimpse:

If this inspires you to embark on your own screen time reduction journey, I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!

Final Thoughts on Screen Time Management

In wrapping up this series, if you or someone you know struggles with smartphone addiction, utilizing the Screen Time feature can be beneficial. Alternatively, if this feature isn't available, various apps can assist in managing screen time. Here are some suggestions:

For Android:

• AirDroid Parental Control
• Kidslox
• FamilyTime Screen Time Control App

For iPhone:

• The built-in Apple Screen Time feature
• unGlue
• Net Nanny

For Both Platforms:

• OurPact
• Qustodio
• Bark

Additionally, it’s helpful to distract yourself with productive tasks, spending quality time with loved ones, exercising, cooking (which I personally need to work on), or engaging in any other activities that can fill your time.

Thank you for following along! I hope this series has provided valuable insights for you!

Sources:

• Top 10 Best Free Apps to Limit Screen Time [Android & iOS]
• 4 Best Apps to Limit Screen Time on iPhone & Android in 2023
• Best Screen Time App to Set Screen Time Limit on iPhone and Android