Why don't we leave our smartphones?
We all know that moment: you take a quick look at your mobile phone and your mother is already standing in the doorway saying that you've been on your phone for ages. This is followed by a lecture that you have a mobile phone addiction and that you should take your mobile phone downstairs at night in future. This discussion usually ends in an argument. And as is so often the case, one parent wins.
But there is another way. It's just that the young person's suggested solution is usually not asked for. For me personally, one solution would be to let them keep their mobile phones overnight. If only because many use it as an alarm clock. I think that young people need to learn how to deal with the media. Also for later, for example when they no longer live at home. But if your mobile phone is taken away, you have no way of experiencing for yourself how exhausted you are the next morning if you were glued to it until midnight. You have to experience the morning agony when the alarm clock won't let you sleep and you shuffle into the bathroom dead tired. Then you think to yourself: Why didn't I go to bed earlier? So dear parents, let your children have their own experiences with mobile phone use at night and they will quickly learn to deal with it.
It helps that my parents trust me!
This is how it works for me: I usually go to bed at 10 pm, say goodnight to my parents and then write to my colleagues and wish them a good night. I usually also have a quick look at Instagram. The alarm clock is set and the mobile phone is placed on the bedside table. Then it's around 10.20 pm. However, if I'm very tired or know that I have a test the next morning, I make sure that I don't touch my mobile phone at 10 pm. Of course, there are always days when it's particularly difficult to get away from your mobile phone. For example, when a colleague wants to tell you about her date today. But then I tell myself that tomorrow is another day and put the mobile phone away.
Admittedly, it's a long way to admonish yourself and get yourself to put your mobile phone away of your own free will. However, it helps me to know that my parents have confidence in me and that I don't want to undermine it.
Picture: Pexels.com
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