Be Smart About How You Use Your Smartphone: Your Mental Health Is On The Line

 

Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest party popper of our lives. It interrupts our story, interrupts our ability to have a thought or daydream, to imagine something wonderful, because we’re too busy bridging the walk from the cafeteria back to our office on the cellphone. – Steven Spielberg

My daughter in college, like most of her generation, seems addicted to her smartphone.  She pulls it out of her back pocket like a gunslinger from the wild west.

Not necessarily talking on it, but texting.  All the time. Every day. Like all her friends. When not pecking away, they’re on their laptops watching YouTube videos (no T.V., please!) or surfing the web on their mental boogie boards.

I like to think that I am not addicted to my phone.  And I guess, by comparison, to my 19-year old daughter, I’m am not.  I am on it about 2-hours per day. The average teenager spends about 9 hours a day consuming social media and music on their phones – often while doing other activities like studying for school.  And anxiety and depression rates are skyrocketing since the introduction of smartphones.

Take Control: Ten Free Apps for Depressed Lawyers

Stress can make or break a person. It has been said that work-life balance is something that each individual should practice in their lives to avoid feeling depressed or thinking that they are burned out. If family and friends are not around to comfort you after a long day in the office, the least you can do is to manage your negative emotions through technology. As a lawyer, these gadgets and equipment are part of your daily life as a means to communicate to clients and in researching for cases and laws. Easily accessible and convenient, tablets and phones come with applications that you can use not only to while away the time but also to entertain yourself.

The Android operating system is arguably one of the most popular mobile operating systems in the market, and the best thing about it is that most of its apps are free. Here are ten free Android apps for depressed lawyers (and just about anyone who is stressed, for that matter):

1. TED

An Editor’s Choice on Google Play, TED allows easy access to creative talks by people from all over the world, coming from different disciplines-from artists to professionals in various fields. These talks may either be from the annual conferences or even the locally hosted TEDx events. You can surely take a breather with the creative and fresh insights from these well-rounded talks accessible directly through this free app.

2. Fruit Ninja

Undoubtedly one of the most popular free apps in the market, Fruit Ninja is a great way to relieve your stress. The game’s premise is that you are a mad ninja who wants to slice every fruit that appears on the screen. Channel all your negative feelings away, one fruit at a time, with this fascinating and addicting game. It also comes with three modes: Classic, in which you avoid hitting bombs and dropping fruit; Arcade, a two-minute fruit-slashing escapade; and Zen Mode, a 90-second fruit-slashing mode sans the bombs.

3. Aldiko

Aldiko is a popular ebook reading app for Android. Take a break from reading cases, regulations and other legal materials. Instead, fill your smartphone or your tablet with novels, romance stories and non-fiction, and read to your heart’s content. It also comes with settings for brightness, font size and margins for a comfortable reading experience. It supports PDF and.epub formats.

4. SuperGNES Lite

They say nostalgia can make people happy, especially when we’re talking about reminiscing childhood. Relive the happy days as a child with SuperGNES Lite, an emulator designed for Android OS. Through this app, you can play old games such as Super Mario World and PacMan without even having to dig up your decades-old console.

5. YouTube

The YouTube app for Android allows you to instantly access YouTube with just one press. Watch funny videos or even tech reviews through this app. You can even leave your comments on selected videos and organize your account through this app.

6. Bad Piggies

There’s nothing like a cute game to make you happy. From the makers of Angry Birds comes another game that is bound to be a hit. Named Bad Piggies, this game is from the point of view of the bad pigs who steal the eggs in the Angry Birds series. Unlike the Angry Birds, this game is somewhat more challenging, but is addicting and fun like the popular series. The objective of each level is to create a contraption with the given materials and parts to be able to get the map where the bird’s eggs can be found.

7. Shoot Bubble Deluxe

A good brain exercise can make you feel better. Challenge yourself with this free app called Shoot Bubble Deluxe. Just shoot the bubble next to two bubbles of the same color or more before the time is up. The best thing about this app is that it has so many levels despite it being free.

8. Pool Master Pro

If you don’t have time to go far away and you are stuck at home, you can still relax and play your heart out with Pool Master Pro. It offers a realistic game interface that real pool masters and even beginners will surely love. The touch control is easy to use and accurate, too.

9. Instagram

Be inspired by other users through this popular app. Now on Android, you can browse through many creative photos that can surely perk you up and inspire you to go places or perhaps eat at a new restaurant your friend has tried a week ago. You can even upload your own photos and apply film-inspired filters to enhance your image. Follow your friends and be in the know of what they have been up to. It’s a good alternative to other popular social media sites as it relies heavily on visuals.

10. Kingsoft Office

Increase your productivity with this app that allows you to create documents, presentations and spreadsheets even when you are on the go. With Kingsoft Office, you don’t have to worry about leaving your computer at home because in the event that a client sends you an important document, you can easily download the file and open or edit it through this app.

This guest post was contributed by Joseph A. Ginarte. He is a specialist New Jersey accident lawyer and leads a team of attorneys and managers at Ginarte. He enjoys writing and sharing his insights on various legal blogs.

 

 

 

 

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