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Survey calls out the problems with heavy phone use

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A new poll confirms what most have observed in recent years: many Americans are addicted to their smart phones.

"Three in five Americans admit the need to check their phones within 60 seconds of getting a notification," said digital productivity coach Deb Lee. She was reviewing the numbers issued by Xfinity Mobile.

"And 49 percent of us admit to picking up our phones to check on something, but then we get distracted and we forget what we were looking for."

Lee is calling on users to conduct a "phone detox." One place to start is removing excessive apps. The survey indicates most phones contains nine apps which are never used.

"We should then be scheduling time to check our emails, check our tweets, check our text messages," Lee said.

"Picking up our phone maybe once in a 60-minute time frame so that we're not always reaching for it, but really inserting it into our day when it is needed and useful."

Lee is not calling on people to get rid of their phones. She wants users to alter their mindsets.  With more awareness and less obsessive use, phones can lead to greater productivity. However, she wants users to log off when it's time for bed.

"There's actually a couple apps we might recommend at night to help you separate from your phone a bit. There's an app called 'Calm,' there's another one called 'Pzizz,' and they do this sort of meditation to allow you to go off into a restful sleep so it will help you to separate from the phone, wake up feeling more refreshed so you can be more productive that day."  

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Jay joined Buffalo Toronto Public Media in 2008 and has been local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" ever since. In June, 2022, he was named one of the co-hosts of WBFO's "Buffalo, What's Next."

A graduate of St. Mary's of the Lake School, St. Francis High School and Buffalo State College, Jay has worked most of his professional career in Buffalo. Outside of public media, he continues in longstanding roles as the public address announcer for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and as play-by-play voice of Canisius College basketball.