Remember the days when all we had was the corded phone in our homes? Yeah, me neither, why is this such a distant memory?

Over the last 15-20 years, our generation has grown a dangerous addiction to these handheld devices. The question on many people’s minds is just how would we cope if we stopped using them?

In a survey back in 2012, only 66% of those polled said they had already become aware of their smartphone addiction.

Many people state that they basically go into “panic mode” when they forgot to take their phone to work, it is their email device, camera, games console and social media face. The term – nomophobia is what it’s being commonly referred to as.

Back in November 2016, mobile internet usage had already overtaken desktop usage. The stats were unsurprisingly going to go into overdrive, now almost any feature you’d find on a desktop can be used on the mini device from anywhere in the world.

Landline phones are nothing more than an antique gathering dust, house phones are used so rarely for outbound calls nowadays, as it is far easier to dial out on mobiles. Inbound calls to landlines are usually cold-callers/scammers these days.

There’s the odd chance of it being an older relative too, they often have the inertia not to use mobiles as they believe they are confusing.

What can you do to stop fueling your addiction?

• Remember that your mobile phone can be turned off, it isn’t a child that needs attention

• Try to leave your phone in a separate room or locked in a drawer whenever you need to study, work or sleep – your brain naturally draws more attention to bright lights and sudden sounds.

• Take days out to disconnect with social media, go outside walking, go play sports etc

Thanks for reading, remember, your mobile phone wasn’t there a few years ago, if you didn’t need it then, you don’t need it now!