You know what? I’d find it hard to keep in touch without my smartphone. It completely changes how I connect with friends in ways that weren’t possible before.
But there’s a downside to this tech world we’re living in. Ever been out to dinner with buddies and suddenly everyone’s glued to their screens? It’s like the convo just halts because we’re all busy checking notifications.
This sneaky little behavior known as “phubbing” is more common than we think. Even if it’s unintentional, those of us not tapping at our phones can feel pretty ignored. If you want to be truly present during hangouts, just flipping your phone face down can really help you focus on the people right in front of you.
I get it, at times I pay way more attention to my phone than to those I’m with. It gives me that guilty feeling later. Sure, responding to a critical Slack message is fine, and sharing a hilarious TikTok is cool too. But honestly, I often realize I’m staring at screens a bit too much (especially that unhealthy doomscrolling). Now, whenever my phone isn’t in use, I consciously try to stow it away, and if I have to keep it around, I make sure it’s always flipped down.
Your Phone Screen Needs Protection
I’ve got a solid reason for keeping my phone turned away from sight: it keeps the screen from getting smeared or cracked. If my phone is absent from my pocket, it’s usually resting on a surface close to a drink.
As someone who’s a bit clumsy, I’ve had my fair share of knockouts due to spilled drinks. Sure, most modern phones are water-resistant, but why press your luck? By having the screen covered, I shield my phone from pesky spills and unfortunate accidents.
Plus, I keep my phone in a case with raised edges that guard against crumbs or dirt on the table. It’s like giving my screen an extra insurance policy.
A co-worker, David Carnoy, once learned the hard way when charging his phone with the screen exposed. What happened? A mug fell and cracked the screen. Lesson learned—always use a screen protector.
Conserve Battery Life
You know what else is a solid reason for keeping the phone facedown? It saves battery life! With notifications popping up, my phone doesn’t need to light up constantly.
Sure, one ping might not drain the battery completely, but it stacks up, especially if I’ve got notifications from all the apps. For those drowning in group chats, the screen could be flipping on a million times a day (and teens particularly are drowning with hundreds of pings each day!).
It’s a Trust Signal
Besides saving battery, flipping my phone down is also kinda essential from a social perspective. When I’m out with friends, hiding my phone means showing I’m not planning to get distracted. I’d rather avoid a lit-up screen stealing focus during a night out or a deep convo in a cozy bar.
Direct eye contact is super crucial for connecting. According to neuroscience research, eye contact gets our brainwaves synced, which boosts communication and empathy. This equilibrium crashes when we start focusing on our phones, even just momentarily,” says clinical psychologist Michelle Davis from Headspace.
When I’ve carved out time to spend with people I care about, I want to be committed. Any ping is a temptation to check my phone, which could pull me away, right when I need to connect.
Lower Your Phone’s Volume
I’ve got my personal reason for keeping my phone down as well. Honestly, my phone dominates too much of my reality.
And talk about irony—I upgraded from an iPhone Mini to a less-sized one, thinking I’d get longer battery but ended up with a gigantic screen and more distractions than ever.
Small smartphones have virtually disappeared. Now my gadget is life-size, demanding attention to distract me from the universe beyond the screen. It sometimes wins the battle for my focus over real-life interactions.
Feeling tied down by my phone can be frustrating. While I’m not sure if that’ll ever truly change or if we’ll eventually move onto some futuristic device, I’ve got control over one thing: I can prevent the screen from disturbing me when I’m not glued to it.
The content in this article is solely for informational and educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any health-related questions or conditions.
