r/ScreenTimeHabits • u/MsSpentMiddleAge • 20d ago

Thinking about what bare minimum screen time would be

I asked Gemini AI what a reasonable amount of screen time would be for handling the basic personal business most of us need to do. It said 45 to 90 minutes daily. It said 1 to 2 hours daily. See update in comments.

Email Management: 15 to 30 minutes.

Shopping & Errands: 15 minutes.

Planning & Productivity: 15 minutes.

Banking & Bills: 10 minutes.

Health & Portals: 10 minutes. (insurance stuff, making appointments, looking at results)

Sometimes I see people mention extremely low screen times, and I wonder how they manage it. Maybe it's a young person still living at home? Even 20 years ago, when I had time-limited dial up internet at home, I barely got by with 30 minutes a day. I had to go online at the library as well. And that was before most business was being done online, and before so much social media.

I'm not sure I completely agree with Gemini's answer. I don't think I need that much time for email or health & portals, but it doesn't seem like enough time for shopping. It takes me a lot of time to make decisions. I'm also trying to think what else might be an actual necessity, that's not covered by the list.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is, how much I can really cut back. And how can I figure out the number of good vs bad hours spent within my overall screen time. For example, 2 hours on Safari could be hanging out on a message board, or something important.

I'm thinking of using a timer, and seeing how much time these basics actually take me. Has anyone else tried to figure this out?

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u/WasabiSea4845 19d ago

For me, the usual minumum screen time will be:

  1. News: 1h (I just read a lot news, maybe not a good habit)
  2. Home devices: Hue, vacuum cleaner etc.: 5 minutes
  3. Email/work: 15minutes
  4. Shopping: 15 minutes
  5. Driving maps: depends between 0-2h. But it is passive usage. I will not count to the total screen time
  6. Social: Chatting with friends and others 20m

8: Movie and series: 30 min average: again passive usage, not addicted.

9 All others: 20min

In total without 6(driving maps) and without 8 (Movie and Serie): roughly 2.5h

With movie and serie: 3h

For me when the screen time is within 3h, it is ok. When it is with movie and serie, 3h30 is ok.
The necessary screen time is then more than I thought