Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Spring-clean your phone
Find yourself endlessly scrolling or can’t stop checking social media? It’s time to have a digital declutter and replace draining apps with something more positive, says
Smartphones have taken over our lives and we spend an average of three and a half hours on them every day. And while the idea of a digital detox is appealing, a reliance on devices for work and life admin means it’s not always practical.
But what is do-able is a digital declutter and it is a great way to make sure your phone is enhancing your life. Here’s how you can spring-clean your phone for a healthier, happier you.
Declutter
Start with an uninstalling spree. Delete any apps you haven’t used in the past six months to free up memory and make your phone more secure.
Change your wallpaper to a photo that makes you smile, pick a new ringtone and head to settings to turn off any notifications that make your heart sink.
Boost settings
Control scrolling time by checking your phone’s wellbeing settings, where you can set daily limits on individual apps.
Investigate focus and wind-down modes, and keep an eye on the data that helps you monitor screen time.
Clean up
While you’re at it, give your phone a real-life clean too. Apple and Google both advise that 70 per cent alcohol wipes are the best for a germ-free smartphone. Or just spray on surface cleaner and wipe.
HAPPY APPS
The apps on your phone should help make life more pleasant and productive. If you want to break a social media addiction but can’t stop reaching for your phone, fill it with other distractions.
Heavens above: There aren’t many apps that get us looking up, but Star Walk 2 does.
It’s a stargazing map that shows where stars, constellations, planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope are in real time – just point your phone towards the sky.
Doodle, don’t scroll: Medibang Paint is a great place to sketch while Sand Draw: Beach Creativity lets you draw in the sand then erase it with a crashing wave.
It’s not quite a sunny beach holiday, but it’s a good place to start.
Snap happy: Several apps offer free photo prints while Snapfish sends out 50 of your favourites every month with P&P costing £3.49. Spend an evening selecting which pics are keepers, then order photo albums to keep them in for some offline downtime.
Get fit: Swap seven minutes of doom-scrolling for a daily seven-minute HIIT session (high intensity interval training) workout. It’s a great way to squeeze a quick calorie burn and endorphin hit into a busy, sedentary schedule.
The J&J Official 7 Minute Workout is popular and simple.
It’s a puzzle: Take 2020’s lockdown favourite pastime online. The Easybrain Jigsaw puzzles app features landscapes, cute animals, abstracts and fiendish mystery puzzles. You can set the number of pieces from 36 to 400, so can decide if you’re in the mood for a quick victory or a challenge.
BE INSPIRED
Fed up with social media and the unrealistic lifestyles portrayed by influencers? Fill your Instagram and Twitter feed with some of these accounts instead that will inspire, educate and bring a smile.
Natural wonders: The @Natural_history_museum (Twitter: @Nhm_london) has insights into the museum’s collection and behind-the-scenes snaps and activities for kids.
Out in the deep blue, @Oceana shares stunning images of sea life along with a conservation message. @Bbcspringwatch is home to beautiful photography and facts about UK wildlife, along with updates on the current series.
Cheap eats: Months of enforced home dining began with a flurry of cooking and baking but have trailed off, for most of us, into endless beans on toast and takeaways.
Find a food account that inspires you like @hungryhealthyhappy on Instagram, with simple meal ideas.
Dog’s life: When it feels like every man and his dog have an Instagram account, pups need to stand out.
Marcel @lecorgi is a fluffy Pembroke Welsh corgi with a penchant for palaces while restaurant-loving @popeyethe foodie has used the enforced break from dining out to show off his range of natty outfits.
Glad tidings: At a time when bad news can feel constant, @globalpositivenews on Instagram curates heart-warming, funny and poignant stories from around the world, providing a daily dose of faith in humanity.
Turn off notifications that make your heart sink and pick a new ringtone
Where would we be without our trusty jeans? Lockdown may have seen them relegated to the back of the wardrobe in favour of joggers, b ut it won’t last for ever, and online stores have just unveiled a host of new jean shapes to flatter all figures.
Old favourites like stretch skinnies and straight legs are there, but the new-season drops also include cool new silhouettes.
If you like a relaxed fit, easy-to-wear boyfriend jeans look fab with a shirt. Or perhaps you fancy a bit of a flare? Trendy types will love the baggy 1990s-inspired styles, while the good old bootcut even makes a surprise return after years in the fashion wilderness. The choice is yours.