If one of your 2023 goals is to learn how to better squash distractions and be more present in your life, you’re likely in need of a few good tips on how to handle the biggest distraction of all: your phone. Ask 10 random people how they waste their time online and which apps are their Achilles’ heel, and you may just find yourself with 10 different answers. This is one of the dilemmas of trying to minimize distractions in your life — the first step is taking a good, hard look at how you spend your time during the day and being honest about the apps that you could spend (literally) hours perusing.
“It’s subjective to determine which apps are the biggest waste of time as it varies depending on individual needs and preferences,” said Mukesh Sharma, co-founder and CMO at Byaj Book. “However, some commonly cited time-wasting apps are social media platforms, casual games, and news aggregation apps. Deleting such apps can lead to reduced screen time, increased productivity, and improved mental health. Instead, experts recommend downloading apps that enhance productivity, encourage mindfulness, or aid personal and professional development. Examples include meditation apps, task management apps, and learning apps.”
Even though each smartphone user’s list of distractions will look a little different, here’s a deeper dig at some of the commonalities among many — these are the three apps that may be worth deleting because they can make you waste so much time.
Social Media Apps
Social media apps are widely used, but unfortunately, they can lead to excessive time wasted, notes Tech Expert Rick Costa at Houselectric.com. “Whether it’s scrolling through your newsfeed, liking posts, watching stories, or engaging in conversations, these apps can be incredibly time consuming and unproductive,” Costa said. “While social media can be a great way to connect with friends, family, and co-workers, it’s important to be mindful of how much time you’re spending on it each day. If you find yourself spending too much time on these apps, consider deleting them and relying on other forms of communication.”
Video Games
“Video games have become increasingly popular over the years and are an incredibly fun way to pass the time,” Costa said. “However, these games can also lead to excessive time wasted. It’s easy to get caught up in the game and completely lose track of time. If you find yourself spending too much time on video games and not enough time on productive activities, it may be time to delete these apps from your device.”
Or: keep one game you love and make it strictly your waiting-in-the-doctor’s-office app.
Shopping Apps
Shopping apps have become incredibly popular in recent years, as they make it easy to search for and purchase items from the comfort of your home. “While these apps can be incredibly convenient, they can also lead to excessive spending,” Costa said. “You may start browsing items and before you know it, you’ve spent hundreds of dollars.” If you find yourself regularly spending too much money on these apps, Costa recommends deleting them and relying on more traditional methods of shopping (you’re far less likely to spend a bundle if you have to physically travel to a store).
“By deleting these apps, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy in 2023,” Costa said. “Instead of mindlessly scrolling or spending money, you can use your time to pursue more productive activities. Think of this as an opportunity to reprioritize your goals and invest in activities that bring value to your life.”
