While mobile phones are a quick way to contact friends, exchange messages, and play games on your own and with others, the amount of time spent on them can be worryingly high.
Therefore, ‘Time to Talk Day’ on the 6th February seems a great opportunity to talk about mental health and meet up with friends, colleagues, and family for some face-to-face chats. Sharing jokes and banter can go so much further than just sending emojis and quick messages which is why this article explores the value in making more efforts to have conversations in person rather than just online.
Prioritising the value of personal conversations
When it comes to looking after your mental wellbeing, it’s better to be aware of the negatives of mobiles and remember why traditional talks with people you know you can trust is more important than ever in today’s digital age. Time to Talk Day is about recognising that, sometimes, being open about mental health isn’t easy. Yet, a conversation has the power to change lives; talking can break down barriers surrounding mental health and be transformative.
Sharing personal problems and the therapeutic benefits of ‘talking therapy’ with professional counsellors like KlearMinds can’t be overstated. Face-to-face conversations provide a level of personal communication that digital platforms can’t replicate in the same way. For instance, when you speak to someone in person, you’ll spot subtle facial expressions, their tone of voice, or read their body language. These all convey emotions that text messages or phone interactions simply miss.
Having meaningful talks without mobiles
Despite being surrounded by friends on your digital device though, it can sometimes feel lonelier than meeting up with people and talking things through. Digital communication can create a false sense of connection while actually increasing social isolation. Many people feel connected online yet experience significant loneliness. Face-to-face interactions combat this by fostering genuine human connections and reducing the psychological distance created by screens.
By prioritising in-person conversations, we create safe spaces for genuine emotional exploration. Modern technology has transformed how we communicate, but not always for the better. While you might be aware that you spend a lot of time on your phone, the reality is actually quite alarming. Recent reports suggest that women aged from 18-24 spend a shocking six hours and 36 minutes online compared to five hours and 28 minutes for men of the same age.
Disengaging from devices to listen
In today’s hectic tech-connected world, it’s not unusual to be anywhere and be distracted by a mobile phone beeping or someone chatting. Whether you’re on a train, in a queue at a shop, or beside a colleague at work, the constant noises, annoying ringtones, or ongoing sounds of notifications can be overwhelming and potentially distressing. Some people who are sensitive will deliberately switch off their mobiles which can reduce phone-induced anxiety and provide much-needed respite.
If you’re able to leave your mobile alone for a while, it can personally be a joy to have a proper chat with a friend you haven’t met and caught up with for ages. Choosing friends and family over phones can also encourage someone else to open up about their negative feelings. They might normally be quite reluctant to talk but seeing you could make all the difference. For example, men are less likely to talk about their mental health and about issues that might be troubling them. Showing people that you are literally there for them may also help to normalise ‘talking over texting’.
Similarly, if you organise to meet in a park, or do something sporty and active together, this can help to boost your mental health, perhaps making you and others around you feel more relaxed. In turn, just being outside together and away from mobiles or screens can encourage you both to talk without worrying about the constant digital interruptions and distractions of devices.
Talking more and texting less
Good mental health is about talking to each other and if you know someone who might benefit from talking more, don’t be afraid about arranging a heart-to-heart chat with them. Making a conscious step to switch from digital channels of communication can require a level of trust between people so you might need to give them a little gentle encouragement. Making an effort to show you care in your social circles, friendship groups, work environments, and family relationships can go a long way.
Equally, taking the initiative to show compassion by planning coffees or social events can create regular opportunities to genuinely talk beyond the limits of text messages. If you can, get together with friends and colleagues who you think might benefit from a good talk and then, when you meet, aim to establish a mobile-free zone. It can make everyone feel more involved and engaged, fostering deeper and more productive discussions.
Staying vigilant about stranger danger
In some settings and especially for younger users, Mobiles have become off limits because of the recognised dangers that overuse and misuse can cause or threaten to cause. The UK Government launched a policy for a mobile-free school environment after research showed that one in five children experienced online bullying, and many companies are following suit creating mobile-free policies of their own. Mobiles sometimes pose significant mental health risks, particularly for younger individuals and can become breeding grounds for:
- sophisticated online scams that exploit those who might be psychologically vulnerable, causing emotional distress and eroding confidence
- cyberbullying and trolling can trigger severe anxiety, depression, and long-lasting psychological trauma
- unregulated digital spaces can expose vulnerable individuals to harmful content that damages self-esteem and emotional security
These threats create complex mental challenges and result in increased social anxiety, diminished trust in personal relationships, and a heightened fear of socialising. Talking therapy for anyone struggling with any anxiety or fear caused by something sent to them via a smartphone can help as can signposting them to seek expert help.
Decreasing digital dependence
If you’re glued to your mobile 24/7, perhaps it might be time to plan a digital detox and make a determined effort to talk more in person to your colleagues, friends and family. While mobiles and online apps are incredible and are a great device for chatting online with friends you might not live near, or see as much as you’d like to, there’s nothing better than a friendly chat to get stuff off your chest.
However, your first step is to identify if you might have signs of digital addiction that are preventing you from seeing people or that are causing you psychological distress. Several key warning signs of an overdependence on a mobile phone might include:
- spending excessive amounts of time online
- withdrawing from physical and social interactions
- showing noticeable mood changes triggered by digital interactions and heightened anxiety when unable to access devices
- neglecting personal relationships and daily responsibilities
Fortunately, in addition to talking about whether you think you’re on your mobile too much, there are professional helplines that can support individuals facing these and other mental health issues. By understanding many of the challenges mentioned here, you can also help others recognise the benefits of having a break from mobiles and digital devices.
