Risk & Business Magazine Hardenbergh Magazine Fall 2019 | Page 6

6 REDUCE CELL USE Ways To Reduce Cellphone Addiction A few weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night to go pee and subconsciously grabbed my leg looking for my cellphone. And that’s when I knew. It’s getting worse. But it’s not just me. It’s us. Three University of Bologna professors published a report in the Sloan Management Review at the end of last year which showed that anxiety spikes when students don’t have their cellphones for even a single day. Another study found when cellphone users couldn’t answer their phones while ringing, they experienced increased heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety. And adolescents who spend more time on phones are more likely to report mental health issues. So, what’s the solution? Here are six ways to fight the good fight. 1. DOWNLOAD MOMENT Peter Drucker famously said, “What gets measured gets managed.” I recommend downloading the Moment app, which simply tells you at noon each day how much time you spent on your phone yesterday. Trust me: The first time you see a number in the eight-hour range…you drop the drug. 2. GO BLACK AND WHITE Have you ever walked into a casino and been dazzled into a jaw-dropping stupor from all the whizzing colors, flashing slots and ringing bells? Does that remind you of anything rectangular in your pocket, by chance? Casinos 6