Chapter 1: Introduction to Phone Usage Tracking

I decided to monitor my phone activity for a single day, and the findings were intriguing.

According to Statista, the average person checks their phone approximately 63 times daily. Knowing this statistic, I approached my day with caution, aiming to determine if my usage aligns with the norm.

Here’s a brief overview of my day:

• I checked my phone around 54 times.
• Each session lasted about 5 minutes on average.
• The app I utilized the most was Spotify, particularly while enjoying Kendrick Lamar’s latest album during my workout.
• Conversely, my banking app saw the least interaction.
• Email was the app I checked most frequently.
• I also captured some adorable moments with my children using the camera app.

Interestingly, there were several instances when I considered checking my phone but resisted, which occurred about 3–4 times, suggesting my usage was still below average.

One observation I made was that not every phone check served the same purpose. I included instances where I simply checked the time or silenced unwanted calls, which happened seven times throughout the day.

I noticed the common tendency to check for one reason only to become distracted by something else. I caught myself doing this twice during the day.

The results of my tracking were typical compared to common usage patterns, and I am actively trying to limit my screen time for various reasons, primarily to spend more quality time with my family, including our newborn and three-year-old. Being in the tech industry, I am acutely aware of how apps are designed to keep users engaged for longer periods.

According to a survey from February 2021, nearly half of the participants reported spending about five to six hours on their phones daily, excluding work-related tasks. Additionally, 22 percent indicated they averaged three to four hours of phone usage each day (as published by L. Ceci at Statista).

Over the years, I have reduced my social media time because I find the content less fulfilling. I maintain active profiles on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Medium. Recently, as I’ve focused on writing more articles, I share updates I believe will interest my followers. Typically, I limit my social media time to just 10 minutes per session, and I check in 4–5 times a day.

Here are some interesting statistics (published by Deyan G. on Techjury):

• Americans spend an average of 5.4 hours per day on their mobile devices.
• There are approximately 294.15 million smartphone users in the U.S.
• Social media accounts for an average of 2 hours and 24 minutes of daily internet usage per user.
• 13% of millennials reportedly spend over 12 hours on their phones each day.
• Baby Boomers average 5 hours of phone usage.
• Millennials spend roughly 48 minutes texting daily.

Although iPhones provide a usage report, I opted to turn it off as I felt I was already sharing too much data with Apple. Initially, it was a useful feature, but I quickly grew tired of it. When I was very active on Instagram, seeing a large bar graph indicating my time spent on social media was less than pleasant, and I suspect others may have felt similarly guilty.

My phone is rarely out of reach, and when it is, I feel a sense of loss. I dislike that such a small device can create that feeling. My next goal is to mentally detach from my phone and engage in thoughts without it.

In conclusion, I feel a sense of accomplishment regarding my phone usage, as I try to maintain good intentions. However, I recognize that I need to limit my time on social media and sports apps, where I often get sidetracked.

Join me on this journey as I explore more about technology and personal growth.

Follow my journey for more insights and reflections!