The Smartphone Obsession Is Real
Admit it—you probably already know you show the signs. After all, when you're spending more hours scrolling than doing what you're supposed to be doing, you can't very well deny it. But if you're here to make sure just how obsessed you are, here are 20 signs that prove you're way too addicted to your phone.
1. It's the First Thing You Look at in the Morning
Your phone is the first thing you reach for in the morning, whether it's to check the time, shut off your alarm, or scroll through your social media feeds for updates that happened overnight. In fact, it's become so ingrained into your routine that you can't imagine what it'd be like to not look at your phone right when you wake up.
2. It's the Last Thing You Look at Before You Sleep
Not only is your phone the first thing you look at in the morning, it's also the last thing you look at before you sleep. You've heard of keeping good bedtime hygiene by shutting off screens at least an hour before you hit the hay, or leaving it somewhere across the room instead of by your pillow, but you can't. You probably fall asleep with your phone just inches away from your face.
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3. You're Constantly Checking for Notifications
Even when it's a particularly dry day and you're not getting too many notifications or texts, you're checking, anyway. Your eyes are glued to your phone screen, watching it like a hawk. You've even suspected that some notifications never arrived, so you'd take matters into your own hands and manually check each app yourself.
4. It's Ruining Your Productivity
It doesn't matter if you're at work or school—you're sneaking glances at your phone whenever you can. And because you can't stay away from your device for more than a minute, it has ruined your productivity, meaning you're always distracted or handing things in late.
5. You Lose Track of Time
You spend so much time scrolling on your phone that you often lose track of time. Before you know it, three hours have passed, and your battery is running low. The work in front of you still isn't done, and you forgot why you checked your phone in the first place.
6. You Always Carry a Charger
Because you're always on your phone, your device is basically on low battery all the time. So, what do you do? You make sure you have a charger with you everywhere you go. It doesn't matter if you're just running a quick errand—you're bringing a portable brick.
7. You're Haunted by Phantom Alerts
You keep feeling like your phone just buzzed in your pocket, but it didn't. You checked. You double-checked, even. But nothing new is there, and yet the vibrations haunt you. It's another clue that you're so addicted to your device that your brain tricks you to believing there's a notification to check.
8. Your Friends & Family Complain
When you're out with friends and family, you're constantly glued to your phone. They've even had to ask you to put your screen down for a moment so you can be more present. You've even had to make phone-free agreements during hangouts.
9. You're Often Late
You're always late to important events or errands because you're too glued to your phone that you misjudge the time. More often than not, it's your constant texting and updating that's keeping you from being punctual.
10. It Stays with You No Matter Where You Go
It doesn't matter whether you're going to the bathroom or the kitchen, your phone stays with you at all times. It might as well be glued to your hand, an extended limb, a part of your body. You can't imagine going anywhere without it.
11. Your Hands Are Always Full
You're always holding your phone, even when you have pockets. It just doesn't seem to make sense to store it in your pockets when you're pulling it back out every minute or so, anyway, so you keep it in your palm. Admittedly, it's made it a lot more challenging to hold onto other things because your hands are always occupied.
12. You Panic When Your Battery Drops Below 20%
In the rare times you do forget to bring your charger or a portable brick with you, you panic. You're always keeping an eye out on your battery bar, turning the brightness lower, closing unused apps. Your phone is practically your life source, so the moment it drops below 20%, you're freaking out
13. You're Constantly Distracted
Whether you're talking to a friend or you're watching TV, you're constantly distracted by your phone. Nowadays, you can't even imagine watching a show without scrolling on your phone in the background, only paying half of your attention to what's happening around you.
14. You Feel Restless Without It
When you forget to bring your phone with you to somewhere, you're restless. You're inconsolable, really. You're hands are always itching to reach for your pockets, only to be reminded that your device isn't there. You can't even focus on anything else.
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15. You Can't Watch a Movie Without Glancing at Your Phone
Forget being distracted at home in front of your TV—you're distracted even at the cinemas. You know it's bad etiquette to look at your phone while in the auditorium, but you can't help it. You turn your brightness down, switch on dark mode, and scroll or text away, anyway.
16. You Check Your Phone for the Time... Then Forget to Check the Time
You swear you just wanted to check what time it was. But three hours later, you're way too deep into your TikTok or Instagram feed, and you forgot what you even wanted to do when you picked up your phone. Oh, yeah—check the time. Time to check it again...
17. You're Constantly Refreshing Your Social Feeds
You're basically moving on autopilot—you know you shouldn't continue refreshing (unless you want to waste another three hours), but you can't help it. You're addicted to seeing what's new, what other updates you haven't seen yet, what your friends are doing now. God forbid you miss something important.
18. You Choose Your Outfits Based on Your Phone Size
Sometimes, you have to change outfits because the pair of pants you wanted to wear didn't have big enough pockets for your phone. Or you had to swap sweaters because the hoodie you chose didn't have pockets at all. Oh, the sacrifices you have to make for your phone...
19. You Can't Drive Without Glancing at Your Phone
You've gotten into trouble before for driving distracted, and yet, you still can't curb the habit of glancing at it or texting friends back at a red light. It's important to realize, though, that you put yourself and everyone else in danger every time your eyes are off the road. Keep your device somewhere you can't reach when you're behind the wheel.
20. You're Reading This on Your Phone
Another sign you're too addicted to your phone? It's in your hand right now as you swipe through this article. Sure, a bigger screen would've made it easier to read, but you'll sacrifice legibility for portability. Heck, maybe you're on your bathroom break—and of course, your phone comes with you.
