Revealed: The psychology of checking phone soon after waking up – Times of India

We live in an age of instant gratification– whether it is about responding quickly to messages or being on social media to know every minute detail about what’s happening in the world. If someone is aloof from this, it is considered no less than a taboo and this makes one stay glued to their phones. Not just this, most of us are even guilty of having a habit of checking our phones first thing in the morning. Interestingly, decoding one’s phone habits can help understand their lesser-known traits, as per psychology. Yes, you read that right! And so, for people who have a habit of checking their phone as soon as they wake up in the morning, here’s what this habit reveals about them:
1. Impulsive nature and lack of healthy boundaries
People who start their day by checking their phones first thing in the morning are often impulse-driven. They have less self-control and instead, they look for instant gratification and results. This also shows that they often react on a whim, without giving much thought or reflecting upon the consequences of their actions. While being spontaneous is necessarily a negative trait, it does show one’s lack of patience. Also, it shows that the person lacks healthy boundaries in their life. While they know that starting their day by checking the phone is not a good habit, they lack healthy boundaries in their life to avoid doing this.
2. A major fear of missing out (FOMO)
People who have a habit of checking their phone– be it messages, emails, or social media– often have a deep fear of missing out (FOMO). They fear that they might miss out on something important, and so are anxious to check their phone immediately after waking up.

3. High levels of stress
Such people not only have FOMO and anxiety but are also quite stressed because of it. Also, constantly being connected to the outside world with one’s phone leads to a continued state of being alert– this can affect one’s peace of mind, and cause stress thus impacting their overall health.
4. Need for validation
People who excessively use social media and frequently post on it, often seek external validation. They want to be liked and accepted by others and when they receive this from strangers on social media, they feel a sense of joy which leads them to eventually check their phones first thing in the morning. This also shows their low self-esteem and need for validation from others in order to feel good about themselves.
5. Procrastination
People who start their day by checking their phone often end up doom scrolling, thus sub-consciously delaying other important tasks for the day. This reflects one’s habit of procrastination and postponing starting their day on the right note. If this sounds familiar to you, then you need to set healthy boundaries and have a proper morning routine to be more productive.
These are subtle personality traits based on one’s phone habits, but they aren’t necessarily negative. Just like all other aspects of life, one needs to learn to have a balance with their phone habits and usage too.