Americans are ditching smartphones for 'dumb' devices to avoid 'zombie mode'

We all get alarmed when our phones inform us just how much time we spent glued to our screen over the last week.

Or at least it was and then, like me, you became numb to it - but how am I okay with spending an average of four-and-a-half hours a day on my phone, and what can I do to change that?

Well, one Californian woman has explained that she switched her smartphone for a 'dumbphone' that can only text and call in an attempt to cut down her screen time.

Doomscrolling is part of our society, but would you do anything to prevent yourself from mindlessly scrolling your phone? (Getty Stock Image)

Doomscrolling, which is a term coined in 2018 to reflect the excessive time people spend scrolling through news or content on their phones, became all too much for Caroline Cadwell after she discovered she had lost control of parts of her life.

Speaking to DailyMail.com she said: "I left a job because I was burned out, and spent almost three months in what I'd describe as zombie mode."

Cadwell explained that she decided to make the switch after spending one summer completely engulfed in her smartphone - so much so that she took her dog for a walk and didn't remember where she walked.

She continued: "It was summer, and I barely remember it - I did nothing. It was when I was nearly out of this time and feeling better that I started to reflect on what, about my burnout, was in my control, and the biggest contributing factor was a lack of boundaries with work."

Speaking of how her life has changed she added: "Space and time, is how I'd describe it. It's amazing how much your relationships can gain from giving it up."

Is a 'dumbphone' the answer to your screen time problems, or possibly an app like Unpluq? (Getty Stock Image)

Since her awakening Cadwell has launched 'Unpluq', an app that locks other apps on your smartphone to prevent doomscrolling so that people can use their phones in a healthier way.

As well as an app, the service has launched a physical tag which can be used to unlock apps by tapping your smartphone.

Cadwell said: "I think people are starting to tune in at a large scale about the perils of social media and smartphones - very few I think would argue that they're good for us, 100 percent, or that social media is only good.

"Is there room for more people to take more action? Absolutely, and we're starting to see that, but I think the younger generations will lead the way on having a different relationship with their smartphones from the get go."

Would you ever take such drastic action to reduce your screen time? I've definitely considered it.