Okay, so, “23 64” – sounds cryptic, right? It’s actually pretty simple. I’ve been trying to get a handle on my daily screen time, and these numbers represent my goal: 2 hours and 30 minutes max on my phone, and 6 hours and 40 minutes max on my laptop. I’m not gonna lie, my usage was WAY over that before.
So, the first thing I did was dig into the settings on both my phone and laptop. Most devices have built-in tools to track this stuff. I found them, activated them, and then… stared in horror at the actual numbers. Yikes! It was, let’s just say, a wake-up call.
The Plan
- Setting Limits: I used those built-in tools to actually set time limits for specific apps. Social media was the biggest culprit, obviously. I gave myself a pretty strict allowance for those.
- Notifications Off: This was HUGE. Turning off almost all notifications was a game-changer. No more constant buzzing and beeping pulling me back in.
- Scheduled “Tech Breaks”: Instead of mindlessly scrolling, I started scheduling specific times for checking social media or email. Like, 20 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes in the afternoon.
- Finding Replacements: I realized I was using my devices out of boredom a lot. So, I started, you know, doing other stuff. Reading more, actually going outside(shocker!), even just tidying up.
The first try
I used all day to put my plan into practice, and when I reached the evening I went to check the statistics, it was so bad that I had to start all over again, it was a complete failure!
The second try(Success!)
I’ve made up my mind. I can definitely do it!
I followed the plan I made yesterday, but I changed it a little bit, because I’m sure that if I follow the same plan as yesterday, I won’t be able to finish it.
The Results (So Far)
It’s been, let’s just say, a work in progress. Some days are better than others. I definitely slipped up a few times, especially in the beginning. But the key is I kept at it. The awareness alone helped a ton. Actually seeing those numbers go down, even a little bit, was super motivating.
I’m not perfect, and I’m definitely not at my “23 64” goal every single day. But I’m way closer than I was. And, more importantly, I feel… better. Less anxious, less tied to my devices. It’s a good feeling. Still working on it, though!
