Ten ways to use your phone more mindfully

More and more people want to break free from their smartphones. Digital detoxes, offline weekends, and special retreats are more popular than ever. But do you really have to ban your phone to find peace? After all, technology is everywhere, it’s part of our nature. Instead of throwing your phone out, it’s better to learn how to use it more consciously and healthily.

Discover these ten tips to improve your digital wellbeing and find a better balance with your smartphone:

1. Reset your notifications
Don’t let every little ping steal your attention. Turn off as many notifications as possible and only allow truly important apps to interrupt you (like messages from family). This way, your attention becomes yours again, each app doesn’t get to take a bite out of it. You decide when to check, not your phone.

2. Think before you text
Not every thought needs to hit the digital highway immediately. Before pressing “send,” ask yourself three questions: Is it accurate? Is it helpful? Can it be received well? By communicating more mindfully, you avoid adding to the digital noise in someone else’s life.

3. Hug your partner, not your phone
Lying in bed together but both lost in your screens. Sound familiar? Keep your phone out of reach at bedtime. Declare your bedroom a phone-free zone and make space for real conversation with your partner.

4. Let apps work for you
Technology isn’t the enemy, if you use it wisely. There are plenty of tools that help you find balance. Think of productivity and wellness apps like Forest, RescueTime, or Headspace. These apps help you focus or relax. Let the apps work for you, not the other way around—turn technology into your ally.

5. Create phone-free zones at home
Make clear agreements with yourself (and your family) about phone-free areas. No phones at the dinner table, in the living room during game night, or in the bedroom. In these offline zones, you’re truly present in the moment. You’ll notice that conversations without screens feel more real and that the world doesn’t end when you’re unreachable in your own home.

6. Schedule your phone time
Before you know it, you’ve lost an hour to mindless scrolling. Break that pattern by planning your screen time intentionally. Set fixed moments during the day to check social media and messages. Outside those times, put your phone away. This keeps your phone a tool instead of a time thief.

7. Get a dose of nature
Spend time outside, without your screen. A walk in the park, a hike in the woods, or simply sitting in your garden works wonders. Nature calms the mind. Think of it as recharging: after some trees and fresh air, the urge to constantly check your phone fades. Plus, green leaves remind you there’s a real world beyond the pixels.

8. Let the battery run out
We often panic when our battery is low or we have no signal, but what if you flipped that feeling? Dare to be unreachable once in a while. Switch your phone to airplane mode during dinner or a walk, or just let it die without rushing for a charger. Enjoy the peace that comes when you’re offline.

9. The art of doing nothing
Standing in line or sitting on the train? Resist the reflex to grab your phone. Practice the art of doing nothing: look around, let your thoughts wander, or start a small conversation. Getting bored isn’t bad at all. In fact, your brain needs those pauses for creativity. See less screen time not as punishment, but as a reward.

10. Visit the Digital Wellness Center
Treat yourself to a digital wellness experience at our Next Nature Museum. At the Digital Wellness Center, you’ll discover playful ways to engage more mindfully with your phone and digital habits. There’s even a guided breathing session!

Curious for more digital wellness?
Dive deeper into the world of humans, nature, and technology with the new Next Nature Magazine, now available in our webshop.