By Susan Doktor
Look around your house and ask yourself, what couldn’t I live without? If you’re like nearly half the population, your smartphone is on the list.
That’s because our smartphones connect us to so many other things we love, from the people who are precious to us to the music that enriches our lives.
Knowing that we can’t live without our smartphones raises a question, though. How can we live more healthfully with them? From finding the best cellular service plan, to choosing a cell phone case that reflects our unique personalities, we invest a lot of time ensuring we have the best smartphone experience. You might want to think about it this way: adopting healthy cell phone habits is part of your overall smartphone optimization plan.
Cell Phone Safety During COVID-19
While the greatest risk of being infected with the coronavirus comes from inhaling airborne droplets released by people who carry it, the virus can also spread via contaminated surfaces. Plastic and metal, two of the materials commonly used to manufacture smartphones, can harbor the virus for two to three days. What’s more, because we hold our phones close to our faces and speak directly into them, they are more likely than other objects — like countertops or pots and pans, for example — to carry traces of the virus.
The first step you can take to reduce your risk comes down to common sense. For best cell phone safety, don’t share your smartphone with others and don’t use other people’s phones. That means not handing your phone to someone else to view your Facebook photos. If someone wants to do a quick Google search on your phone, do it for them.
Don’t reach over to hand someone their phone just to be courteous. Our phones have become so ever-present in our lives, we are barely aware of how often we touch them. Now’s the time to increase our awareness of how we touch our own and other people’s cell phones.
Keep it Clean
It’s also a smart practice to disinfect your phone periodically. Phone manufacturers have recently advised users that common disinfectants like alcohol and bleach wipes can be used to clean screens without damaging them. But some products might be too harsh so it’s best to follow your phone’s manufacturer’s advice on the subject. If you’re into gadgets, you may also want to consider one of the phone disinfecting devices that uses UVC light to kill germs.
UVC is ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light is a type of radiation that makes black-light posters glow and is responsible for summer tans. Light in the UVC wavelength can be used for disinfecting water, sterilizing surfaces, destroying harmful micro-organisms in food products and also in the air.
UVC light has been used for years to stop the spread of disease. It’s also a component of the best air purifiers for home use. Choose a model that encloses your phone and bathes it in light, rather than a wand-style model, to avoid exposing yourself or others to the low level of radiation the devices emit.
Cut it Short
Following stay-at-home orders to help stem the spread of the coronavirus has arguably made us even more dependent on our electronic devices. We’re lonely and bored. And our phones help keep us connected and engaged, whether through social media exchanges or playing our favorite puzzles and games. We’re attending to basic household tasks like grocery shopping with our phones and we’re banking electronically more often, too.
But the body of evidence connecting too much screen time to health problems hasn’t disappeared with the emergence of the global pandemic. In studies of cell phone safety, screen time has been linked to obesity and it can also disrupt our sleep patterns. Studies show that poor sleep can lead to chronic inflammation, an underlying cause of health problems ranging from asthma to heart conditions.
Shutting the cell phone and computer off a couple hours before bedtime can lead to a better night’s sleep. The light from these devices has been shown to reduce the sleep-inducing hormone known as melatonin and make it harder to stay asleep at night. Another tip for better sleep would be to take some highly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium such as those found in the natural sleep aid Sleep Minerals II. Magnesium has been proven to help reduce the harmful effects of radiation from cell phones.
Caring for Kids
Some parents have all but given up trying to limit their kids’ screen time since schools have been closed due to the coronavirus. For one thing, they feel like they’re not the best role models right now. But limiting our kids’ use of smartphones remains important. Ironically, while adults may experience a greater sense of connectedness by using their phones, too much screen time can make kids less interested in being with their friends and family.
The shows and games that appear to keep the kids’ minds engaged may actually impair their thinking and learning abilities later in life. It’s safe to say that family members of all ages can improve their health by taking steps to use their cell phones safely.
Author Bio:
Susan Doktor is a journalist and businesswoman who hails from New York City. She writes guest and ghost-blogs internationally on a wide range of topics, including health, technology, finance and consumer products.
