As our phones have become an extension of ourselves, it’s increasingly difficult to maintain proper phone etiquette. With a multitude of apps at our fingertips and the ability to constantly stay connected through email and text messages, the need to remain accessible at all hours of the day has never been more pervasive.
However, there are certain places that you should absolutely not be caught using your phone. From movie theaters to the spa, here are 10 spots where you should keep your phone hidden away.
1. Movie Theaters
We had to kick off this list with the movie theater. Not only is every movie theater going to remind you before the movie begins that it’s not okay to use your phone, but it’s also just common sense. The bright screen and/or disruptive texts and calls will, without fail, make it hard for other people to enjoy the movie. Just … be a considerate person, you know?
2. Museums
When it comes to a place that you definitely shouldn’t be using your phone, the museum is up at the top as well. A big part of this is that museums are brimming with priceless pieces of art; taking a picture of one can be a literal criminal act. You don’t want to find yourself being escorted out of a museum because you couldn’t resist adding a picture of a Van Gogh painting to your Instagram story.
3. Planes
Good old airplane mode is there for a reason. Were you to keep your phone active during your next flight, you could potentially interfere with the pilots’ headsets. That’s a big no-no all around.
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4. Spas
The spa is a special place, one where folks spend hard-earned funds to enjoy a welcomed reprieve from everyday hustle and bustle. The last thing you want to do is diminish someone’s spa experience with your phone making all kinds of disruptive noises.
Related: 6 Places You Should Never Keep Your Phone
5. Cemeteries
Any cemetery is a sacred place. We’re talking about a plot of land that people specifically visit to grieve the lives of their loved ones. Can a cemetery be hauntingly beautiful? Sure. That’s still no excuse to make a social media update out of the experience.
Related: Rude Awakenings: Etiquette Rules No One Follows Anymore
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6. Cars
Using your phone while driving is an entirely selfish and terribly dangerous decision. The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving accounts for 1.6 million crashes each year. That’s 1.6 million crashes that could have been avoided simply by putting your phone in the glove compartment.
Related: Don’t Make These 11 Mistakes While Driving in the Winter
7. Bedrooms
The blue light from your phone is nothing to joke about. That seemingly innocent light can instantaneously restrain the natural production of melatonin, which is a hormone responsible for helping you maintain a healthy sleep cycle. So, configure your bedtime routine such that you’re not using your phone before you start counting sheep.
8. Checkout Lines
The checkout line in a grocery store can lead to anxiety-riddled and rushed moments. Do what you can to help ease other people’s checkout line nerves by refraining from using your phone until you’ve successfully purchased your items.
Related: 7 Money-Saving Grocery Store Hacks, According to Redditors
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9. Meal Times
The times that you’re able to gather around the table with your friends and loved ones is precious. Resisting the urge to use your phone when you’re enjoying a meal with company can go a long way. You’ll be more mindfully engaged in conversation, and actually might also find yourself savoring the meal that much more.
10. Public Transportation
The people that are somehow ignorant to just how madly irritating phone use can be on public transportation are on a different level of inconsiderate. Just don’t do it. If your bluetooth headphones are out of battery juice, that’s too bad — it’s no excuse to share your playlist with the rest of the passengers.
