This is why phubbing might be sabotaging your relationship

Phu-wattes? That was exactly my reaction when I first heard this term, and probably yours too. Phubbing stands for ‘phone snubbing’, which simply means that your partner prefers scrolling on their phone over interacting with you. How is that not cozy? Now I hear you thinking: we can't be that addicted to our phones, can we? But research shows that this happens more often than you think.

It turns out that more than 17 percent of people leave others hanging at least four times a day for a bit of scrolling, and nearly 32 percent of people report being phubbed two to three times a day. Although this may not seem like a big problem at first, research shows that phubbing can indeed harm your relationships and your own mental health.

Here's how it works: phubbing interrupts your ability to be present in the moment and makes it harder to connect with the people around you. Being on your phone during a conversation makes the experience of the conversation less satisfying for everyone involved, including the ‘phubber’ themselves. If your partner is a regular phubber, your relationship won't be any cozier either. Another study even found that partners who phub each other experience more depression and have a higher chance of eventually breaking up.

Okay, intense. But what can you do about it, in a time when we are all glued to our smartphones?

1. Make dinner a phone-free moment
Put your phone aside when it's time to eat and prevent distractions from afar by turning off your sound. Use dinner as a moment to connect with your partner and have a genuine conversation. Don't be surprised if this feels a bit forced at first; these are just withdrawal symptoms and they will pass.

2. Leave your phone at home sometimes
This may be a scary idea for the phone addicts among us (or for those – like myself – who can't go anywhere without navigation), but don't be afraid to leave your phone at home sometimes. It helps you to be present in the moment and truly enjoy your outing, without worrying about your Instagram Story.

3. Make it a game
My favorite way to change habits: reward yourself. Turn ignoring your phone into a game and reward yourself when you haven't touched your phone for a few hours. Result: a better connection with your partner or other company AND a nice prize. If that isn't a win-win...

Source: Healthline, Women’s Health