Put the phone away from the table for the length of the meal, while keeping important calls and messages available. A phone-free dinner works best when everyone knows the boundary and it has a clear end.

Agree on a simple rule

Try “phones off the table until we finish eating.” If you are eating alone, use the same boundary for yourself. Choose a place for the phone before dinner begins so you are not deciding mid-meal.

You do not need a long conversation about digital habits to start. One meal is enough to test the idea.

Make reachability explicit

If you are waiting for a call from a child, a caregiver, or work, leave the phone within hearing distance and keep the relevant communication available. Check that the alert will actually reach you.

Unplug Me keeps calls and texts available while distracting apps are locked. During setup, choose other tools you need; do not assume every app is automatically available.

Use the charger as a place for checking in

A charger outside the dining area can become the place where you look at feeds before or after dinner. With Unplug Me, plugging in is the action that unlocks distracting apps for a timed session. Leaving the charger away from the table turns “just one quick look” into a choice.

If dinner happens away from home, a simple no-phone-on-the-table rule may be more practical than relying on the charger.

End the experiment after the meal

When dinner is over, decide whether you actually need to open an app. If you do, take a short, intentional session. If not, leave the phone where it is for a little longer.

Adjust the rule for your household. The right boundary is one that respects both attention and real communication needs.

A SMALL BOUNDARY FOR DISTRACTING APPS

Try Unplug Me

Lock distracting apps until you plug in, then choose a timed session.

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