Let’s face it, most of us would like to spend less time staring at our phones.

We even try to put boundaries in place to bring our screentime down. But in the war for our attention, big tech companies are generally winning. But as we become more aware of the impact of screen addiction and distraction, many of us are taking the fight more seriously, especially Millennials and Gen Zs who have first-hand experience of growing up with tech.

I love talking to younger generations about screen health and find their advice hugely helpful. In fact three of the best screentime tips I have heard recently are from Millennials I have met at my talks.

Tip #1 – Touch it and pay
Few things make me sadder than seeing family or friends at a restaurant all staring at their phones. A young group of friends I met recently had an ingenious way to prevent this: whenever they met for dinner or drinks, everyone placed their phones in the middle of the table. The rule was simple: the phones stayed there until the meal was over. Anyone who touched theirs before then had to pay for dinner or buy the group a round.

Tip #2 – Workplace focus
Digital distraction at work can quickly derail your focus: you pick up your phone to check one message and soon find yourself scrolling.

A young teacher recently told me about an app she uses to stay focused at work. It lets you set a workplace location and radius, then choose which apps to block when you arrive. With fewer notifications and temptations, it becomes much easier to stay focused and productive.

“When I do use my phone at work, it is for things I need to do. The rest I catch up on when I get home,” she said.

Tip #3 – Accountability buddy
Many of us have tried setting app time limits and failed – I know I have. It is simply too easy to tap “yes” when an app offers another 15 minutes.

A couple I met recently decided to take screen time more seriously by setting each other’s limits with a passcode only the other person knew. The wife explained that if she used up her time on a specific app for the day, she had to ask her husband for more.

“More than anything, it has made us think about whether we actually need more time on the app, or whether we could be doing something better with our time,” she said.

“It works great for us!”

What I learnt most from these wise young people is that winning the daily battle for our time and attention takes intention. I am inspired and challenged by their creative solutions, and I have started using versions of them in my own life. Digital freedom is worth fighting for, and I love that the next generation is leading the way.

Christy Herselman is founder of The Chat – a culture shaping movement focusing on sexual and digital health. The heart of The Chat is to provide education and catalyse meaningful dialogue. She is the author of three books and gives talks and workshops in schools, businesses and communities.

Find out more @thechatdurban and www.thechat.co.za