Someone tells you they spend way too long on their phone and want to cut back. What would you suggest?

A natural way to answer

I would suggest setting some simple limits, like no phone during meals. It also helps to turn off notifications and to leave the phone in another room while you work. Small changes are easier to keep than big ones.

Key phrases to use

• scrolling away — scrolling on a screen continuously, often without noticing the time“I was scrolling away and missed my stop.”
• take the edge off — to make something unpleasant or intense a little easier to bear“A snack will take the edge off your hunger.”
• fill the gap — to do or use something to replace what is missing“A hobby helped fill the gap after I retired.”
• calling the shots — being the one in control and making the decisions“In our house, the cat is calling the shots.”