There is something so satisfying about playing around (aka wasting time) on my phone. I often find myself using it with no real purpose, just as a form of entertainment or a way to relax for a few minutes.
I think that’s why I often scroll through social media sites. Not because I have a reason, but because it’s an interesting way to waste time.
And I’m not alone. Researchers say two of the top reasons we use social media are to fill up spare time and find funny or entertaining content.
In our current crazy circumstances, spending too much time on social media or news sites can do real harm to us, emotionally and mentally. Even seeing the word coronavirus repeatedly can make it hard to stop worrying.
But, I know I’m not going to put down my phone any time soon, so I was determined to find other things I could do on my phone to relax and be entertained other than social media or news.
15 Ways to Have Fun on Your Phone Without Social Media
1. Pinterest
I do not consider Pinterest to be a social media platform; it’s more of a search engine. A search engine with photos. What is better than that? It is so much fun to scroll through recipe ideas, new printables, party ideas, and DIY projects.
2. Games
I have never been a huge gamer, but I have played a game or several of Words with Friends. Other games to try for us gals: Candy Crush, Covet Fashion, Design Home, Uno, and Choices: Stories Your Play (a choose-your-adventure type game). There is even a Kim Kardashian game. (I have no words.) Our family had a great time recently playing Heads Up. Our 5 year old was even able to do it.
3. Coloring
You probably knew adult coloring books were a thing, but so are coloring apps. If you are looking for an activity to relax you, this is it. Here are the 10 best iOS coloring apps and the 7 best coloring apps for Android.
4. Houzz
If you love decorating your home or just watching HGTV, you would love Houzz. I like to think of Houzz as the Pinterest of home decorating. You can browse by room, decorating style, décor piece like lamps or cabinet handles, and more. Plus you create your own stylebooks (just like a Pinterest board) to save ideas you like.
5. Learning
Use your phone to learn something new. You could learn a new language with an app like Duolingo or learn pretty much anything with apps that host online courses, such as Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, MasterClass, or Great Courses.
6. Streaming TV
I know this one is obvious, but consider trading your news watching habit for a streaming show. Even if you aren’t much of a TV watcher, there are classic shows, documentaries, game shows, reality shows like cooking or home & garden, and history shows.
7. Books & Magazines
This is where you’ll find me spending a lot of time. Kindle is the master of ebooks, but libraries also offer apps that allow you to read free content on your phone. Overdrive and Libby are two of the most popular for ebooks and audiobooks, and Flipster is one our library offers that gives us free access to digital magazines.
8. YouTube
What doesn’t YouTube have to offer? No matter what subject interests you, I’m willing to bet that YouTube has videos you can watch on it. Beauty, pop culture, crafts, cooking, organizing—just YouTube it.
9. Music
Remember the days of the iPod? When we thought it was so awesome to be able to carry all our music in the palms of our hands? That is still an incredible benefit of our phones.
And now, we don’t even have to buy music. We have access to any song we can think of through Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, iHeartRadio and others.
When is the last time you created a playlist full of songs that make you want to dance around the kitchen or sing in the shower? Now is the time to do just that.
10. Recipes
You know those videos that show someone making a recipe in about 15 seconds? I love those and could watch them for hours.
And, I love trying new recipes.
If you like to experiment in the kitchen or just want to spice up your meal rotation, check out recipe apps like Tasty, Yummly, Epicurious, and Food Network Kitchen.
11. Photos
Smartphones have made taking photos much easier, but what do you do with your photos afterward? Do you just leave them on your phone?
Spend some time uploading your photos to a cloud-based site like Shutterfly, Google Photos, Amazon Prime Photos, or one of these other sites that are recommended by Consumer Reports.
We use Shutterfly, which I like because I can easily order prints or have gifts or photo books made with my photos.
12. Blog Readers
Believe it or not, blogs are still a big deal. And you don’t have to go to a specific site to see if your favorite blogger has a new post up. I use an app called Feedly to compile the latest posts from bloggers I love. I can skim through the new posts quickly, read the ones I’m interested in, and even save them to read later.
13. Podcasts
Podcasts are the best thing since sliced bread. No matter what topic you are interested in, chances are there is a podcast that talks about it. Check out some of my favorites in this post, and if you prefer true-story podcasts, you have to listen to the Confronting: O.J. Simpson podcast by Kim Goldman. I was on the edge of my seat.
14. Meditation
Even when we aren’t dealing with a pandemic, life throws us curve balls that leave us feeling anxious or stressed. One way to cope with those feelings is to meditate. Apps like Calm and Headspace are great options if you like guided meditation. They are effective at teaching you to focus without being new agey.
15. Video Calling
With everyone stuck at home, there’s no better time to catch up with your friends and family via video chat. There are a million apps out there like FaceTime, Skype, and Google Hangouts. Whatsapp is great for chatting with international friends, and I like Marco Polo for video texting.
I can’t wait to hear what new activities you discover that you enjoy doing on your phone. Join me on Facebook or Instagram to share your best tips for staying connected while limiting your time on social media.
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