Smartphone addiction: Nomophobia is real!
updated the 14 July 2015 à 18:31Muster the courage to log out and live in the real world – with the help of these few tips.
“Not being connected is the anxiety of the men of the XXIth century”, notes Laurence Roux-Fouillet, a relaxation therapist. We spend more time photographing and tweeting our meals than savouring them, and more time sending text messages than talking to each other “in real life”. Not forgetting the risk of our mobile being gobbled up by the toilet…
Mobile addiction is real, hence the creation of the term: “Nomophobie”– No mobile phobia: the fear of being separated from the device.
DIGITAL DETOX
To avoid becoming a “frugal geek”, Laurence Roux-Fouillet suggests defining neutral zones where the mobile is banned: the bedroom, the dinner table, the bathroom (and toilets!), and the restaurant. The later to allow us enjoy dinner by savouring every bite, “in full consciousness”, rather than typing simultaneously on the keyboard.
Catherine Barry, coach and relaxation therapist, proposes a compromise for mobile addicts: turn it into a meditative tool to develop our intuition! Sitting in a quiet place, we meditate by using an app that broadcasts the sound of flowing water.
4 TIPS FOR REDUCING OUR MOBILE USE
Offer yourself a respite of 5 minutes of silence a day, by switching the device to silent mode.
Massage firmly the inside of the hand with the opposite thumb, moving in concentric circles (this will help resist the temptation to tweet!).
Start colouring activities. This is a radical means of disconnecting and forming fresh ideas, thanks to the repetitive round motion of the pencil.
Go to places where mobile use is frowned upon: libraries, trains, chapels of airports, place of worship…
Isabelle Soing
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