Delaying the morning phone scroll — even by just a few minutes — could do wonders for your brain.
We know staring at a screen all day isn't healthy. But even if a full digital detox isn't realistic, an offline morning can still go a long way, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes.
Doing something else in the morning before looking at your phone can be hugely helpful, behavioral scientist Zelana Montminy, the author of the new book "Finding Focus," tells Axios.
🧠 Zoom in: "Your brain sort of wakes up like wet cement," says Montminy. The first "imprint" you make matters.
Instead of checking messages, she suggests checking in with yourself: Are you well-rested? Can you remember your dreams? Even better: Can you step outside, breathe and soak up some sunlight?
Try to stay in a "relaxed, open mind frame for as long as possible," Montminy tells Axios.
⏰ Developing a screen-free wake-up routine takes practice.
Start small — two minutes, then longer, Montminy says — "and you will see, unequivocally, that your day will be so different in the best of ways."
📵 And if willpower isn't enough...
Products like Brickand Unpluqallow you toblock distracting apps.
Apps like Jomo and Forest encourage intentional phone usage.
