It seems today that most people are glued to their smartphones. They use it to text, check e-mails, Twitter, Instagram, listen to music, or play games, among so many other things. Smartphones are almost essential to stay connected with one another and have become a vital part of our lives.

However, researchers say your smartphone could also be wrecking your life.

Researchers at the University of Florida, Michigan State University, and the University of Washington have found that excessive smartphone usage decreases productivity and focus.  

Late night smartphone use affects productivity the next day; the more often someone checks their phone, the less productive they will be the next day.  

And your cell phone use doesn’t just affect you. Notifications sent to friends and e-mails sent to co-workers after hours will cause them to look at their phone.  Doing this could decrease the productivity of your entire workplace.

Switching between your phone and other screens also has an impact on focus. Multi-tasking causes the brain to be less able to focus on one thing at a time in the long-run. When attention is going from one screen to another, the brain is trying to process a lot of different information at the same time. This leads to decreased focus and concentration, even when you’re not using the phone.

Set boundaries for yourself about when you are going to use your smartphone, and avoid using it when going to sleep. Keep your private life and your work life separated by not answering work-related e-mails or texts unless absolutely necessary. 

Avoid multi-tasking with your phone and other electronic devices. By doing this, you will be able to increase your productivity and focus.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-your-iphone-wrecks-your-sanity-productivity-and-focus-2014-3#ixzz2wXhpW2XP