Are You A Smartphone Zombie?

Ever seen a “smombie”? I have. And the sight scares me. Combine a smartphone with a zombie-and you get a “smombie.” Look at the streets! Humans often walk like zombies, faces down. They are all mesmerized by their smartphones. They never make eye contact with other smombies. Smombies are now everywhere. But many people don’t even realize they are a smombie! “Am I a smombie?” you may ask. Yes, you are a smombie if you...

• know where your phone is at all times and it is always in full view,

• never turn it on to silent, even at night, as you feel you might be missing something,

• always sleep with your phone charging next to your bed - or in bed,

• are out with friends yet still constantly check your emails, social networking, texts and calls,

• usually, use your phone while walking in the streets.

  See? I bet you always do these things in your daily life. Everyone does. There is no doubt about it anymore: we are in the midst of a smartphone zombie plague! So how do we combat becoming a smombie? Here are some solutions:

• Always monitor how often you check your phone.

• Turn your phone off for a specific amount of time. Try talking with someone, exercising or practising meditation.

• Do you feel an urgent need to check your phone? Try using coping skills such as deep breathing, giving your attention to the people around you or busying yourself with other activities.

• Ask other people to take your phone away for specific time periods.

• And never ever walk and text on the streets!

  Fellow smombies, it’s actually not that hard. Put your phones down and follow these suggestions, and we’ll come back to life!