This morning I walked past a line of cars waiting at the red traffic light on my street. My eye caught a driver who was typing intently on his phone. As I continued walking past the line of waiting cars, I saw really every driver looking at his cell phone.

Then I walked into the supermarket and there too I encountered many people looking at their cell phones with their heads bowed. Not that this is so special these days, but it fascinated me. I just got back from my vacation, during which I hardly used my cell phone, so it struck me more.

According to Theo Compernolle, neuropsychiatrist and author of the book "How to get more out of your brain," we are lived by our phones. The cute messages we read not only cause us to release the happiness substance dopamine, but also make us addicted to it. We want to read even more comments, likes or nice messages.

I also sometimes get distracted by the information coming in on my phone. Just checking Instagram, the news, or my emails. Sometimes 20 minutes will suddenly pass before I realize I was doing something completely different.

According to Compernolle, this is when we primarily use our reflex brain. This is the old part of our brain, which responds mainly to stimuli and impulses. It reacts at lightning speed, but it does not really think for itself.

Like this neuropsychiatrist, I don't think technology is the problem, but how we use it. I think it's important for us to be more aware.

Being aware (present) means that you can choose what you give your attention to. Although I also sometimes get distracted by the information on my cell phone, I would not choose to spend so much time on this if I am truly aware in that moment.

Coppernolle's tip for breaking free from cell phone addiction was to turn off the sound on your phone, read your mail only two to three times a day and leave the cell phone at home regularly.

To complement this, three more tips from me:

• Fill your mobile with interesting apps, podcasts etc. that inspire you and make you calm and happy
• Daily meditation makes you more aware of what you are doing
• Close your eyes when you notice that you have actually been looking at your cell phone for some time, this promotes choosing what you actually want to do