How to quit your smartphone addiction, according to science

Smartphones have become an addiction and many find the habit of constantly using their phones inescapable.

However, to help us break this habit, senior editor of the Atlantic has discovered a way.



In a video for “If Our Bodies Could Talk,” James Hamblin says breaking your addiction to your phone is as simple as changing your iPhone screen to grey. Hamblin explains bright colours stimulate excitement in the brain, which is why every notification on our phones is red. Red is the most effective colour at enhancing our attention to detail.



According to Gallup, 72 per cent of smartphone users check their phone every hour. This constant phone checking becomes a dangerous habit when it is affecting relationships and productivity. However, unfortunately for most of us, it seems impossible to stop.

A survey conducted by global software security group Kaspersky Lab Excess says the use of smartphones and internet can kill your memory, leading to so-called “digital amnesia.”

This is why making your iPhone monochrome by going to settings > accessibility > greyscale, you will naturally spend less time on your phone.



As Hamblin puts it, “It may look a little joyless, but hey - at least it'll get you paying attention to the pretty stuff in the world around you instead.”

This article originally appeared on Indy100.