After hearing about Catherine Price’s writing on how to “break up” with your phone, I’ve changed my lock screen.

It now has an image with three questions:

What for?
Why now?
What else?

* * *

What for? Why am I about to use my phone? What am I about to check? What’s the purpose? What need am I trying to satisfy?

Why now? What about my present situation is prompting me to use my phone? Am I bored? Am I anxious? Am I avoiding human interaction?

What else? Instead of looking at my phone, what else could I be doing? How else could I satisfy my present needs?

* * *

I still use my phone plenty. But these questions offer a welcome interruption to an unconscious habit. They give me just enough pause to check-in with myself before I thoughtlessly dive into whatever is behind that screen. This hesitation is sometimes all it takes for the impulse to pass.

You might not have a problem with your phone. But maybe there are other habits you’re trying to keep in check. An afternoon drink. A late-night snack. Unnecessary shopping.

These questions can help interrupt habits like those, too.

H/T Greg