"I wish time travel were real. If it were, I'd go back to 2006 the year before the release of the first iPhone. A time when doomscrolling didn't exist, and the thought of a phone call didn't cause me a rush of anxiety. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. And many Americans agree."
"On social media, some are already labeling 2026 the age of analog, swapping Spotify for a record player and a smartphone lens for a film camera. Plenty of advice already exists out there on how to reduce screen time. But we were on the hunt for unique tips that went beyond silencing phone notifications or setting time limits. I asked for advice from a slew of experts who study addiction and digital detoxing and have written best-selling books on managing screen time (we've shared them in a reading list below)."
Imagines returning to 2006 before the first iPhone, a time before doomscrolling and phone-call anxiety. Notes a cultural shift toward analog in 2026, with people swapping streaming for records and film cameras for smartphone lenses. Recommends evidence-based strategies and cites five books addressing screen-time management. Presents 15 realistic tactics beyond notification silencing and time limits, including physical cues like a rubber band and symbolic acts such as writing a breakup letter to a phone. Advises first checking smartphone usage statistics and practicing mindfulness about emotional triggers for phone use. Includes a vulnerable final tip and screen-free activity ideas.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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