The average attention span of humans have been falling throughout the years, and it's only going to get worse from here. No thanks to mobile phones, trying to focus on the task at hand becomes an impossible task itself. Studies have shown that the average person checks their phone for 85 times in a day! And you know deep down, more than half the times, you check your phone even when there is no notification.

This actually has quite some negative effects on us, especially mentally and emotionally. Research says that being addicted to our phones result in more negative moods, depressed productivity, and in serious cases even insomnia. So, if you're one of the people who just can't leave their phones alone, try out these 5 methods:

1. Turn Off Your Phone

Yes, the most straight forward way is just a simple press and hold of a button. However, it's much easier said than done. Turning your phone off will ensure you do not get disturbed by anything at all, but you may start worrying about emergencies. That's alright, if this isn't for you, keep reading.

2. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

One of the reasons why people get distracted easily is because they keep seeing their phones right beside them, tempting them to unlock and discover what's new with the world. To get rid of that problem, just keep it somewhere you can't see it. In your bags, in your wardrobe, or even right outside your room. That way, if there really is an emergency call, you'll still be able to hear it and get to it in time.

3. Set A Tech-Free Time

Many people use their phone right before bed and then again right after they wake up. If you can discipline yourself and set a tech-free period of 1 hour before bed and 1 hour after you wake up, it'll greatly improve your sleep quality and give you more time to do healthier things like read a book or exercise.

4. Use Screen Time Apps

There are plenty of apps out there in the App Store and Google Play Store that help you monitor the time you spend on your phone, and even on each app. Newer Apple devices have this built in and you can even set a "lock" on the app after using it for a period of time.

5. Turn Off Notifications

This is by far the best way to start your journey to curb phone addiction. Research shows that people have been "trained" to feel happy when they hear the sounds of notifications. Some even report feeling "phantom vibrations" when the phones are in their pockets, even though there was no actual notification. Notifications were designed to make you want to open up the app to find out what's new. So, stop falling into the traps of developers and turn off any unnecessary notifications, especially from social media apps!

Trust me when I say, the lesser you are dependent on your phone, the happier and more energetic you'll feel in your daily life. Why don't you try it for a week or 2 and see what it's like for you!