As technology continues to evolve, the constant presence of it in our day-to-day lives carries the threat of not only being a distraction, but also turning into an addiction if we're not careful.

A little over a year ago, I wrote about the deadly distraction of digital devices, discussing the trend of people texting and taking selfies while engaging in risky behavior. These problems appear to be getting worse as numerous studies of distracted driving and technology addiction continue to make headlines.

For example, recent research suggests people are using their smartphone cameras to take pictures of the landscape around them while they're behind the wheel and posting them to their Instagram and Twitter accounts, using the hashtag #whiledriving.

I'd like to provide some insight on the negative mental and physical health effects the constant use of technology can have on us, as well as useful tips on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the midst of the endless noise of our smartphones and tablets.

With this in mind, do you find yourself guilty of using your mobile device excessively? Do you feel overrun with technology or unable to go long periods of time without using it? If so, then here are six tips on how you can lessen your digital use and add a little more balance in your life.

1. Separate yourself every now and then

Stop taking your phone with you into every room of the house. A study in the journal Social Psychology asserts that the mere presence of a cellphone can be a distraction.

Instead, leave it in your bedroom or, if you're worried about missing an important call, increase the volume of the ringer. Leave the phone in your purse or pocket when you're out shopping or doing some other outdoor activity. Don't be tethered to it while it's charging either. Instead, break away and do another tech-free activity.

Do not sleep with your mobile device in your bed either because it will be too tempting to continue using it. Put it on a desk or dresser in your room, so it will be out of reach when you're laying down. Forget the e-book and hit up your local used bookstore instead.

Giving your eyes a rest from the electronic screen every now and then throughout the day can help prevent computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain.

2. Take advantage of the Do Not Disturb function

In the settings of most mobile devices nowadays, there is a Do Not Disturb mode you can either switch on manually or schedule a time for it to be switched on automatically.

I've found this feature particularly useful when I lie down to go to sleep for the night. Like many others, I have a hard time resisting the urge to grab the phone when I receive a notification. This feature, however, removes that temptation for me to stay up late using my phone by preventing the device from making noise, vibrating or lighting up.

One important thing to be aware of is that alarms still work in this mode, so you don't have to worry about the alarm not going off the next morning.

3. Set guidelines

Here is when a timer might come in handy, if you believe it's necessary. Choose to spend only a certain amount of time on your device, such as an hour on the Facebook app, browsing the Web, etc. If it's a part of your job (like mine), you may want to avoid being on the internet for the rest of the day after you're finished with work, or again give yourself a time limit, etc.

Think about places where it's disrespectful to use your device. In other words, don't use your phone in the movie theater, when you're at a restaurant with someone else or eating meals at home with your family. Don't even use it at work unless it's job-related or needed for an emergency.

This next one should be a given, yet it's another issue in itself: Do not text while driving. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found "texting was associated with the highest risk of all cellphone-related tasks" and is 23.2 times worse than driving while not distracted. It's best to avoid walking while texting, too. The Do Not Disturb function can help in each of these scenarios.

4. Make physical activity a priority

If you're busy riding a bicycle, lifting weights or doing some other type of physical activity, then you're not likely to have a phone or tablet in front of your face — unless you like to take selfies in the gym or text while cycling, in which case you might consider solely focusing on these activities from now on rather than continually throwing your phone into the mix.

Using your mobile device while doing a physical activity will more than likely result in a bodily injury. Not only that, but making sure you set aside time each day to be active will only benefit your health in the long run.

5. Have a tech-free mental health awareness day

Unplug from the phone and/or tablet for at least one whole day each week and see how much more productive you end up being. Compare that day to the rest of the week and consider what kind of difference it makes.

Pay attention to how you feel throughout the day and take note if you're struggling to keep yourself from plugging back in before the day is over. Then ask yourself if it's possible you could be addicted. According to a national survey conducted by Common Sense Media, out of 1,200 people surveyed, 27 percent of adults and 50 percent of teenagers reported that they feel addicted to their mobile devices.

So take a step back and think about why you're having difficulty abstaining from checking your phone or getting on social media. You may discover more about yourself than you would had you not taken this day to separate yourself completely from the distraction of technology.

6. Test out these apps designed to curb tech use

If all else fails, there are a handful of apps available that can help provide a little more balance to your life by raising awareness to your electronic habits and changing them up.

For the iPhone, there's a free app called Moment that monitors your device usage, allowing you to set time limits and then letting you know when you've exceeded them. There's even a "Force Me Off When I'm Over" setting in which the app will fill your screen with constant popups if you try to exceed your daily limit.

For Android smartphones, iPhones and tablets, there's an app that can be purchased for $2.99 called ( OFFTIME ), and you can use it to block calls, texts or certain disruptive apps for a set period of time each day.

I'm not saying to completely give up using mobile devices, but instead to think about how much time you spend using them. Technology now plays such a dominant role in our lives, so it can be easy to lose sight of the real world. These are just a few suggestions to help get you back on track.