July 2018 is cell phone courtesy month! What does that mean to you and your family? Well, this is a time to reflect on how we can be courteous, and safes, especially now that 95% of Americans own a cell phone of some sort these days. With that being said, here are some tips to keep in mind to make sure you aren’t too zoned out into your smartphone or cellular device.
Face to Face Meetings
If you’re visiting with family, friends, or meeting with someone for business, it’s best to keep things eye-to-eye during your face-to-face meetings. If you keep checking your phone every few minutes, or every few seconds in some cases, this comes off as rude to the people in your surroundings. You could leave a bad impression this way, so it’s best to keep your phone in your pocket during meetings.
Keep it Private
Do you have a private call to make? During cell phone courtesy month, be sure to keep your private calls behind closed doors. If you have to talk about sensitive subjects, especially if it’s information that could be considered “too much information” for those around you, it’s best to step out for a moment to take the call.
Vibrate Mode
If you’re in a public space, out with friends or family, or simply on the job at work, it’s best to keep your phone in vibrate mode. It’s there for a reason folks! If your phone goes off at the wrong time, again, you could be sending the wrong message to those around you unintentionally.
Stop with the “Cell Yell”
Have you ever seen someone shouting into their phone and asking the person on the other end, “Can you hear me now?!” – don’t be this person. People in your surroundings can already hear you when you keep your voice at a normal volume, but the cell yell takes it one step further and becomes a bit invasive for those who aren’t on the phone with you. Remember, if the person on the other end can’t hear you, the problem is most likely the cell phone service, and not the volume of your voice.
Put your Phone Down to Drive
By far the most important tip of cell phone courtesy month is to always, always put your phone down if you need to drive. This is not only courteous to the other person on the phone with you (so you can properly focus on the conversation), but also courteous to anyone in your vehicle, and anyone else on the road. You have to share the road, so it’s best not to put multiple people’s lives in danger just for one conversation.
Download our Mobile App
We’d like to leave you with one more tip – take our agency with you on the go! If you want to stay free from worry, anywhere, and 24/7, then you can have the power of our agency in your pocket by downloading our mobile app. Anytime you need us, we will be there for you. Our mobile app can help you in an emergency situation, help file claims, pay bills, and more. To download our mobile app, click the link below.
