How to stop phubbing

So you’ve realised you’ve been guilty of everything above and are now panicking that everyone in your life secretly hates you for it. What now? According to Al-Saggaf, if there’s someone in your life who phubs you, you should try to calmly bring it up. This might be as simple as saying, “Hey, can I please have your attention?”

But this may only stop the act once. If it keeps happening – which will be more likely if the phubber is addicted to their phone and/or social media – you’ll need to have a more considered conversation.

“Explain how being phubbed effects you and why it needs to stop. It can also help to set ground rules around phone use when you’re together. For instance, parents can establish rules around using phones while eating dinner, and partners can decide to put their phones away before going to bed,” he writes.

“If you’re concerned you may be a phubber, think long and hard about how you use your phone around others. If you catch yourself phubbing, stop and make a commitment to avoid it in the future.”

However, sometimes phubbing is essential, so how can you manage it in a healthy way?

“If you’re with someone and absolutely must phub them, do this as considerately as possible. You could say, ‘Sorry, I have to quickly check this/send this text,’ or ‘This is urgent,’” he suggests. “And try to keep it short. These small acts can go a long way in reducing the effect of phubbing on the phubbed person.”

‘Phubbing’ is harming our closest relationships – here’s why and how