As much as we do not want to admit it, we all have some sort of attachment to our phones and other electronics, but it is very common for this attachment to get in the way of how we live our everyday lives. Research has shown that having some time away from your technology can improve your happiness, mental well-being and overall the quality of your life. The following are just a few out of the many things that you can do instead of being on your phone. 

Find a Good Book 

Even if you may not be a big reader, there is always the perfect book for everybody. First, you should look at the movies or shows you watch. A lot of movies have been based on books and so finding one that has already piqued your interest will help with getting into a book.

You can also look for a genre that you think you would enjoy the most instead of one that you may already know the ending to. Reading a good book is all about wanting to read more to find out the ending. Some of the most popular reads include The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling, and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. 

Limit Yourself and Give your Phone to Someone Else

Limiting yourself is a key factor in the journey of getting away from your phone. One way for teens to limit themselves is giving your phone to your parents. Although most people will not want to do that, it would take away the temptation of using your phone when doing something important or when you are trying to have quality time with someone. 

Another way for you to limit yourself would be by using apps on your phone such as screen time. It allows you to limit the amount of time you spend using apps or your phone. 

Get outside and go on a walk 

When you are bored, do not immediately go to your phone. A simple way to stop being bored without going on a device is by going on a walk. 

Go out and get fresh air, walk around wherever your feet may take you. This is an activity that is perfect for when you want some alone time or time to chat with a friend. It is also an easy way to get some exercise in. Getting some time outside can reduce your stress levels and improve your mood. 

Living in Ventura we have many places where we can go on a walk and enjoy our surroundings. We have the beach so close by where you can walk or you can even go downtown and walk around and even go into some shops. You can also go on a walk around Kimball Park to get some fresh air or go enjoy one of the hiking trails at Arroyo Verde Park.

The best part is that a walk can be as long or as quick as you want, it can just be for ten or fifteen minutes to a whole hour.Once you start taking a walk instead of going straight to your phone you will start to enjoy it more and may even go outside for a walk without thinking about it. So put the phone down and go ahead and enjoy some scenery. 

Spend time with family and friends 

When spending time with your family or friends you do not want to end up staying on your phone the entire time. This defeats the whole purpose of spending time with them because you are not truly there, or present with them. 

Playing board games, or any games really, is a great way to pass time with friends and family while making memories at the same time. You can also take a quick trip to the beach or park, or you can have a small road trip and visit nearby cities or a theme park.  Doing any of these can help improve your relationships with friends and family and limit your time on a device. 

Find a hobby 

Putting your phone down gives you the chance to do your favorite hobbies or even find new ones. You can also feel satisfaction as you see yourself improve at your hobby. 

Even if you do not have a specific hobby, you can break your usual cycle and try something new. You may not like everything you try, but I am sure that there will be something that you enjoy doing that you will want to continue to pursue. 

You can take up art and learn how to draw or paint. Maybe even skateboarding or biking may interest you. There may even be a sport that you have always wanted to try. You can try all of it. 

Overall, there is always something you can do instead of being on electronics, it just takes yourself to be the one to put it down.