1) You need to practice all the same safety ideas for the Internet and social media you learned on the Social Media Safety page .  For this page however, we are focusing on physical safety

2) Set your own time restrictions:  Are you addicted to your cell phone?  You may be addicted to your cell phone if.....

📱You have a really hard time not using your cell phone during times like work or school when you shouldn't?

📱You'd rather be on your cell phone than socializing with actual friends in person   

📱Do you get a sick feeling when you don't look at social media for a while?  

📱Do you experience phantom vibrations? 

📱Is looking at your notifications the very first thing you do in the morning even before getting out of bed?

Addiction to the internet, social media or cell phones can make changes to your brain similar to addiction to Heroin or Crack.  Just like with any addiction, your reward section of the brain activates releasing Dopamine.  If you were to stop using your cell phone for 1 month, your brain will go through a "reset" and return to normal but only after going through "withdrawal".  It may be tough but it may be needed.   Recognize this and schedule  "no phone" time for yourself each day..set your own restrictions .  

3) Do not sleep next to your cell phone. Why?

📱A phone under your pillow next to you on your bed will subconsciously create a sense of alertness in your brain where you are anticipating when it's going to ring or vibrate.  You hear/feel it and instantly, your brain is telling you to look at it.  This interferes with the sleep cycle

📱If the cell phone overheats and it's on soft fabric, it will be easier to cause a fire.  Why? the type of cell phone batteries

📱The jury is still out on the long-term effects of cell phone radiation. In general, it is deemed safe amounts of electromagnetic radiation. However, if you have it next to your head constantly, you are getting constant exposure to radiation in your skull and near your eyes.   

4) Speaking of Electromagnetic radiation:  try to avoid constant exposure to the "natural" radiation put out by your cell phone.  Again, officially, it's considered to be at a safe level but constant exposure can still cause problems.  Things to do to prevent prolonged exposure:

📱If talking on the phone, use a hands free device such as speaker phone or ear buds.   With facetime, zoom, what's app, duo, skype and other video conferencing apps....this is becoming more common.  

📱Don't keep it in the same pocket all of the time.  Pockets are close to Reproductive organs and to your colon.  

📱Don't keep airpods or wireless earbuds in your ears if not using them.  They use blue teeth to communicate to your phone and thus, have radiation directly in your ear canals

📱Never place in a bra directly on breast tissue.    This article is a summary of a 2017 Dr. Oz report   where woman believe their breast cancer was caused by cell phones.  No conclusive evidence was found.  This article, speaks about how tumors were directly under where cell phones are often kept.  Again, there is no conclusive evidence that cell phones contribute to breast cancer but it's good practice to use prevention first.  

5) EYE PROTECTION 

📱20-20-20 or 45-15 The 20-20-20 rule was designed by Californian optometrist Jeffrey Anshel as an easy reminder to take breaks and prevent eye strain, according to the Optometry Times.  When following the rule, a person takes a 20-second break from looking at a screen every 20 minutes. During the break, the person focuses on an object 20 feet away, which relaxes the eye muscles.  45-15 is similar..after 45 minutes of screen time, look out a window for natural light for 15 minutes

📱Use blue light filters.    The blue light on any screens interrupt sleep patterns.   It interferes  with both the sleep cycle Mit self and the release/production of melatonin.  Most cell phones have auto settings for this now 

6)  Hold it up when using it.  Most people hold it down near their stomach or lower chest which forces a head to constantly look down.  This is developing an actual DIAGNOSED chiropractic condition called text neck where ligaments are stretched, lumps are developing and subluxations are occurring in the cervical part of the spine (neck). These subluxations are pinching nerves and changing blood flow and cerebral spinal fluid flow which contribute to other issues.  (click this link to read an article about it) 

7) When walking alone, do not continually text because it does not allow you to pay  attention to your surroundings.  You could walk into an accident (car, construction, a pole or even off a train platform) or you could be attacked and assaulted easily by not being able to react fast enough.  (it's also a good idea if you have ear buds in to "leave one ear open" 

8) Do not answer cell phones if they ring while driving unless you can answer them by voice command, while at a red light or stop sign, or  pressing a button on the steering wheel (for cars with built-in blue tooth technology) 

9) AND never..never..ever, text while driving.  

Texting while driving is quickly becoming the leading cause of accidents in the United States for drivers under 21.  

In most states, it already is! Scroll down for a BUNCH of videos and articles about this