It's time to curb the phone addiction for real.
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| | | | | "Phonedemic," "tech neck," and "chronic online syndrome" are terms that didn't exist just a couple of decades ago, at least by these names. These expressions aim to liken the overuse of smartphones and other digital devices to a pandemic or chronic illness. In my opinion, they may not be that far off. | | While I do confess that the phonedemic has affected many in my age bracket (Gen Z), we're not alone. Talker Research polled 2,000 American adults and found that, on average, they spend 6 hours consuming some type of media daily (whereas Gen Z consumes just over 6.5 hours). Older adults are also spending more time in front of screens, although it's still less than younger generations. | | I already limit my screen time out of concern for my health, and I'm always open to trying new things. Recently, I tried setting my phone to grayscale, which purportedly helps curb the "doomscrolling." Did it work? Keep reading to find out! | | | | | | | TTYL (talk to you later),
Sarah Matysiak
Associate Editor, Healthline |  | | Written by Sarah Matysiak
May 23, 2025 • 4 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | | It's not all black and white | | According to a 2022 study, setting your phone to grayscale (black and white) may be the secret to stopping phone overuse in its tracks. Our brains see phone usage as a reward and the colorful display positively reinforces us, which helps keep us hooked. | | Data from my phone showed I had an average screen time of 3 hours and 15 minutes the week before I started this challenge on May 6. Compared to others in my age group, my screen time is relatively low. So, I was curious how this phone hack would affect it — if at all. | | Immediately upon changing the setting, I did feel less of a "rush" when I looked at my phone. My wallpapers looked less lively, and my phone felt boring overall. It's like my brain knew what color things were supposed to be and was trying to fill them in, but my eyes were only seeing black and white. Definitely less satisfying. | | Regardless of how I felt, the data showed something else: On the first day of the challenge, I spent 3 hours and 2 minutes on my phone, which isn't *exactly* the best improvement from the previous week. But given that I know my screen time can hover between 4 and 5 hours sometimes, I would consider it a slight improvement. | | Day 3 was more promising: Only 2 hours and 27 minutes! … But then I spent 4 hours and 30 minutes on it on day 6. What was up with all this back and forth? | | Check out my full review below to find out how the rest of the 2 weeks went (and whether I plan to keep my phone in grayscale)! | | | | | | | | | | Never lose your wallet! | | | | | | |  | | Senose Phone Wallet | | When I leave the house, it's usually only with two things: my phone and my keys. It's not a big deal anymore if I leave my actual wallet at home, thanks to Apple Pay and one of these phone wallets. Sure, it adds a little more bulk to my phone, but for the added convenience of never having to worry about forgetting my ID, I'll gladly take it! They're pretty long-lasting but will eventually bust, which is why this pack of assorted colors is a great deal. | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Now's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | How did you feel about this newsletter? | | | | Email wellnesswire@healthline.com with comments related to this newsletter or topics you'd like to see in future editions. The newsletter editors read every message that lands in our inbox — yes, really! We look forward to hearing from you. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | |  | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | Little Free Libraries. | | | | | | | | View in browser
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