Screen Time …

I had just picked up my phone when someone said, “Don’t look at the screen so much; it’ll ruin your eyes!” For a moment, I thought, “Alright, today’s the day. I swear I’ll lock this phone in the cupboard.” But then reality hit—who’s going to keep opening and closing the cupboard for every little thing? Work needs to get done, the world’s digital now, and I can’t just ignore it all. Letting go of screens isn’t that simple.

So, I decided I’d start keeping track of my screen time. First day, just as the alarm went off, I couldn’t resist. WhatsApp, Instagram, emails—checked everything. I reminded myself, “Keep it short, buddy, or not just your eyes but even your brain will tire out.” But, oh, the allure of the screen! A few minutes later, I’d already forgotten my resolution.

Then came the second day. I thought, let’s try a solid plan. Two hours a day for screens, and the rest of the time for books, music, or a walk outside. Initially, it felt great, as if I’d taken on some kind of monk-like vow. But by evening, my mind started saying, “Just a quick check on social media, see what’s happening out there.” And that “quick check” somehow turned into half an hour.

On the third day, I set strict alarms. As soon as the alarm went off, I’d immediately pull my eyes away from the screen, taking a deep breath, like a yogi emerging from meditation. Slowly, it became a habit—taking a five-minute break after every hour. My eyes felt relaxed, and my mind refreshed.

But there’s something funny about trying to cut back on screen time. It becomes its own kind of addiction. Each day, I find new excuses to dodge my own rules—like someone who keeps saying they’ll quit bhang (a herbal drink with mild intoxicants) tomorrow but never does. The digital world’s pull is just the same. Sometimes, I think that staying away from screens in this age is a form of asceticism, one not everyone can handle.

And here I was, writing all this down, when a notification popped up—”You have a new message!” And, well, here we go again.

By the way here is best app to mange screen time for android users, call Digital Wellbeing