Four Ways You Can Break Your Phone and Ways to Avoid Them

If you're a fan of Upright Citizens Brigade Theater or comedy in general, you might want to take a look at this video posted last month, which pokes fun at the extent we'll go to protect our phones and tablets. We do not, for example, recommend that you get a case for your case as suggested by the mobile accessories employee – nor is there a case that's specifically designed to deflect bullets. Your case, although aesthetically pleasing, has one purpose in mind: to protect your mobile communications device. While the video satirizes the extent to what people will do to protect their phone or tablet, there are some real external threats that could put them at risk. Here are four situations you'll want to avoid:

The Classic Morning Step Blunder: A lot of us leave our phones or tablets on the ground when we go to bed just in case someone calls, which is a terrible idea. Imagine yourself in the morning. Are you the type of person who jumps out of bed ready to conquer the world, or are you the type of person who needs a moment to collect your thoughts? If you're the latter, you might not be aware of your mobile device that's right beneath your foot as you step down. Keep your phone on a night stand.

The Cruel Fate of a Meeting with the Washer: One of the worst feelings is being unable to find your phone, and as you are about to give up, you hear the sound of the washer. Then you piece it all together. Leaving your phone in your dirty clothes and throwing it into the washer is a death sentence. Therefore, it's important to always check your clothes before you throw them in. A few seconds of prudence can prevent the annoyances of having to get a new phone or tablet.

Butterfingers: Everyone drops things every now and then. Unfortunately, sometimes that common human error can happen at the worst possible time, such as when you're walking on concrete or pavement with your phone in your hand. iPads and iPhones were not built to withstand long falls down onto a semi-hard surface. That's why it's important to outfit your iPad with a quality iPad 3 case and your iPhone with an iPhone 5 case respectively.

The Toilet Seat Blunder: And probably the worst one of them all: dropping your phone or tablet in the toilet. Whether you're lifting the seat and it falls out of your front pocket, or you're brushing your teeth and your elbow knocks it over, the bathroom is no place for a tablet or phone, so avoid at all costs.