In today’s digital world, we’re always connected. Our phones make maintaining relationships easier, but they’ve also given rise to the silent relationship killer: Phubbing. This odd word combines “phone” and “snubbing” and essentially is when you ignore your partner in favour of your cell phone.
Phubbing can lead to serious problems in your relationships. Here’s how to put a stop to it!
Phubbing up your relationships
Our phones have become a key part of our lives, with more and more adults using social media as a form of validation, connection, and escape. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that phubbing has become a major trend.
Unfortunately, you might not know when you’re phubbing – ignoring those around you by focusing on what’s happening on your phone. This can lead to unhappiness, feelings of discontent and neglect. Several studies have shown that major issues in modern marriages involve increased phone usage.
Overall, if you find that your relationship is lacking intimacy, feelings of content and happiness, you may be phubbing. If your friendships no longer bring you joy, your phone obsession may be the cause.
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Phubbing can affect your mental health.
Phubbing can affect more than your personal relationships though. Prioritizing your phone over human interaction can negatively impact your mental health. Social media dependency can lead to depression and anxiety.
Even worse, if you find yourself on the receiving end of phubbing, you may feel neglected, depressed, and insignificant to the people you care about.
Also see: When and how to take a ‘mental health day’ off from work
Signs that you’re a phubber.
- You’re on your phone when in company, often having more than one conversation at once.
- Your phone is attached to your hand, even in situations when it shouldn’t be, like a dinner date.
- You feel FOMO whenever you’re not checking your phone.
How to stop phubbing
Luckily, there are a few ways to stop your bad phone behaviour.
- Leave your phone behind when you’re with the people you care about.
- Set “no phone” boundaries – just like your parents might have done when you were a teenager.
- Try a phone detoxing challenge! Delete social media or lock your phone away for a few hours or days at a time.
If a loved one seems to phub all the time, you can help them out by:
- Be better – keep your phone away. Hopefully, this could model some good behaviour for your friend.
- Call them out. If your friend or partner is constantly on their phone in your presence, it’s a good idea to speak your mind and tell them how they feel.
- Be kind. While phubbing isn’t an addiction, it mirrors bad impulse control and could highlight a few mental health problems.
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