Family man Odin Engebraaten (47) got a surprise when he saw how much time he spent on his mobile phone last year. The answer was 35 hours a week. – It is almost a working week. There are many hours in the day. The time was spent reading about corona and discussing it on social media. The 47-year-old wanted a change. How many hours do you spend on your mobile phone every day? 1-2 hours 3-4 hours 5-7 hours More than 8 hours Show result – It was a bit difficult Usually January is a month where he eats healthily and abstains from alcohol. This year he also wanted to limit mobile phone use. He started the first digital fast in the New Year and it lasted almost three months. He deleted Facebook, Instagram and online newspapers. And all notifications were turned off. The mobile phone could only be used for calls, e-mail, online banking and Vipps. It was only used for 3.5 hours the first week. – It was a bit difficult, because it is natural to pick up the mobile phone when you are a bit bored, have some time for yourself or take a breather. Then you just have to stand in it. Eventually you get used to not answering the phone. Marked changes In addition to getting more time, the dog also got longer walks. Engebraaten meditated more, was with the children more, read books, cleaned the house and listened to more music. – I got other dreams and I got new ideas. Wife Jennifer McConachie says she noticed that her husband became calmer, more content and positive. – He was also a role model for the children, so that they would spend less time on screens, says McConachie. His wife Jennifer McConachie noticed that Odin Engebraaten had more energy when he had his first digital fast. Photo: Hege Therese Holtung / news Wants a longer break When the war in Ukraine came, the fast was ended. He wanted to follow what was happening. But there were still no apps for social media and online newspapers on the mobile screen. Now Engebraaten is embarking on a new digital break. The plan is for it to last until 20 December. So for 16 weeks. The dog Winnie was given longer walks when Odin Engebraaten had strict restrictions on what he could use his mobile phone for. Photo: Hege Therese Holtung / news – I recommend this to many. You get more in touch with yourself, you get better relationships with those closest to you and you are more present. – Don’t you become a bit antisocial when you’re not on social media? – You become less social online, but become more social offline. It’s easier to pick up the phone and hear how friends are doing, or you’re visiting someone. He advises more people to use the mobile phone only to make calls, send messages and check the online bank. He is praised for this by neuroscientist and doctor, Ole Petter Hjelle. Can affect health Research shows that we spend an average of 4-6 hours in front of the mobile screen every day. This is shown, among other things, by figures from the Ungdata survey. This should worry us, says Hjelle. – Sleep, regular movement and social interaction are the cornerstones of our health. The more you are on screen, the less you do of these three things. Hjelle has written about how we can get rid of screen addiction in the book “Det digitale dopet”. – It is addictive, Hjelle asserts. Doctor and neuroscientist Ole Petter Hjelle says people who cut back on screen use are surprised by how much time they get. Photo: Hege Therese Holtung / news He believes most of us benefit from watching a little less on screen. – But I don’t think digital fasting is for everyone. For some it is appropriate to have it strictly, for others a few hours without a screen. It is important to find a plan that suits you. Helpful advice for people who want to use their mobile phone less Reflect on their own use of the screen. We are on the mobile phone more than we think. See on the mobile phone how many hours you are actually on the screen. Make agreements with yourself. Have times of the day when you should not be on the screen. E.g. put your phone away from when you get home from work until the kids have gone to bed. Have places in the house where screens are not allowed, such as the dinner table or the bedroom. Put the mobile phone away physically, e.g. in the car. Then the threshold is high to pick it up. Make your cell phone less interesting. E.g. have gray icons on the apps. Put apps you want to cut back into folders. Then they become less attractive to your brain, because it is lazy. Turn off sound notifications when you get messages or likes.
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