Whether you are out with someone for dinner, interviewing someone, or just meeting someone for the first time, there is a special quality about face-to-face interactions. It’s unfortunate that real-life interactions are on the out as cell phone conversations; texting, instant messaging and Facebook start to take up more of our time. A recent Pew Research survey of adults in the U.S. found that 71% use Facebook at least occasionally, and 45% of Facebook users check the site several times a day. We spend so much time maintaining superficial connections online that we aren’t dedicating enough time or effort to cultivating deeper real-life relationships. Although it’s a great way to connect with people from around the world and it’s always readily available, it just not a good idea to always have it illuminate your face 24/7.So all we can do is cut down on our phone use, and take a little time away from the screen. Here are a few ways to do just that. How much time you spend on your phone? How long are you really on your phone each day? Apps like Checky, Moment, BreakFree and Quality Time track the time you spend each day on your phone. The truth hurts, but you’ve got to start somewhere, right? Put your phone on silent before every meal, and then put it away so that you can’t see it and aren’t tempted to look at it. This is just good manners. And it also forces you to connect better with the people around you. Win-win! Consider alternatives to using your phone Let your mind wander and get lost in your everyday thoughts instead of allowing it to absorb everyone else ideas and creativity from the Internet. Or keep a book or a magazine to read and keep you busy. Turn off your notifications OK, so maybe you can’t turn off all your alerts because you need them for work. Fine. But if you can, turn off all those extra notifications that keep you on the phone all day long. Set up phone-free periods every day Get in the habit of having phone-free times. Try to set up phone-free periods during the day. Schedule them when you’re busy doing something else, in order to make the break a bit easier. You don’t need your phone at the dinner table, in the bathroom, or while you’re watching a movie or reading a book.