Do you normallycheck your phoneat dinner?
What’s more, previous research published inFrontiers in Psychiatrylinked excessive smartphone use to mental health problems.
The average American checks his phoneevery 10 minutes, or up to 96 times a day.
But, ironically, nine out of 10 people feel offended when others use their phones during face-to-face interactions.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, participants who had their smartphones at hand experienced less enjoyment than those having a phone-free dinner.
Other studies reported similar findings.
Need one more reason to put your phone away at mealtime?
Plus, it mayaffect your relationships, causing unnecessary stress and arguments.
For starters, turn off your rig or put it on silent during meals.
Alternatively, enable Do Not Disturb mode.
Leave the table and head to another room when you receive the call.
Better yet, ask your friends to join you on this challenge.
For example, you could use theDownside appto gamify the whole thing.
The loser will have to wash the dishes, pay the tip, or clean the table.
Technology cannot replace human interaction, and every minute that passes is gone forever.
