There used to be a time, early this century, when a camera, computer and phone each had distinct functions. In those days consumers were thrilled by the portability of these devices, and this seemed to have been the furthest technology could go. Moreover, cellphones, laptops and digital cameras greatly outperformed their predecessors. As technology advanced, the cellphones began to be manufactured to perform other additional functions resulting in the multi-use smartphone. This device is extremely powerful and efficient. According to ZME science, the Iphone 6 is 32,6000 times faster than the computers used to send the Apollo space crafts to the moon in 1969. With such smartphones, however, is the increased risk to obsessively use it. Look around you and you will see many people constantly thumbing away on these screens and impulsively checking them. If you fall into this category, here's some ways you can develop a healthier relationship with your phone.

1. Understand Your Usage

It won’t be fair to start on developing a healthy relationship with your smartphone without first understanding how you use it. For a day or two, keep track of how many times you use your phone, and if possible, note how long each session lasts. Do you use it mostly during your down time, or does it also light up places it should not be, like in class or at work? Starting here helps you see how big your dependence is. To make it even easier for you, you can download applications suggested by Digital Trends: Moment for Iphone users and BreakFree for Android. They would do all the tracking for you; talk about using smartphones against themselves!

2. Turn It Off!

Or at least put it on silent when completing certain tasks that do not require your phone. You and I both know that you can eat, walk down the street and shop without constantly looking at your phone. It can be argued that since it doubles up as a camera, the phone needs to be on standby. Come on now, not every time of the day is a photo-op so the device safely can stay off. Try giving it a shut eye the next time you go into a meeting. Its a guarantee that you won't find yourself fidgeting with it.

3. Manage Your Usage

In as much as avoiding unnecessary interaction with that screen is important, ensuring that you have enough quality time with it equally useful. Schedule times to check your phone, and this can be as often as you think is required. It could be once a day or once every two hours. This controlled usage ensures that the impulse to use the phone reduces to a reasonable level.

4. Log Out Of Applications

Sometimes, one new notification from social media is enough to kick start a long, unproductive session on the smartphone. Curb this by logging out of the applications that you use the most and then log back into them during your scheduled screen-time as explained in number 3 above. Your followers and friends can always wait.

5. Get A Seal-able Case

Storing your mobile phone in a case that can be closed as opposed to leaving it out in the open is a small way of tricking your brain into reducing the impulsive usage of the device. If you are committed towards having a healthy use of your phone, then the time it takes for you to take it out of its case will give you time to consider your actions. Ideally you would stop mid-way and wait for the opportune time to use the device. If a sealed case is not enough to stop you, try placing the phone in an out-of-reach location. Digging through your chaotic back pack, for instance, will serve as an equally useful barrier.

Remember, negative smartphone usage stems from habit and it is therefore changeable. Like anything else these strategies would be difficult at first, but stick with them, and you'll develop a healthy balance in your smartphone use. Stand out from the crowd when it comes to this.