Do Not Disturb: Implementing Healthy Social Media Use
Screens are everywhere, and let’s be honest, they often make life easier. If you are anything like me, you use a phone or laptop for work, paying bills, scheduling appointments, keeping in touch with friends, entertainment, navigation (GPS is a lifesaver!), shopping and so much more.
While technology can bring ease to life and help us in many ways, it can also harm us. Recently, I became aware of some negative effects technology has on my life.
First, I’ve noticed that the more social media I take in, the less I am able to focus and pay attention to what’s going on in real life. When I’m constantly scrolling and jumping from page to post to reel to Wordle and so on, I never give my mind a chance to process the information I’m taking in. This has directly impacted my ability to listen to others and process what they are saying. My husband always knows when I’m scrolling because everything he says goes in one ear and out the other. Even when I’m not on a screen, I struggle to pay attention to anyone for more than a minute or two because my mind is so used to jumping from one thing to the next.
Second, screens can spark anxiety. I could be perfectly at peace and read one news article and suddenly think the world is ending. Or I’ll check one email before bed and then my mind is racing and I can’t sleep because I’m worried about what is going to happen tomorrow at work. God wants us to live in the present and not stress out about what is to come. Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Social media, emails and news articles can make this verse difficult to live out.
Lastly, in my experience screens lead to a constant game of comparison. It takes about two seconds of social media intake to find someone who appears prettier, more successful, happier or better off than I am. Comparison can lead down a dark path that ends with discontentment and jealousy… believe me I’ve been there and it’s a path void of joy.
Now don’t get me wrong, technology is not all bad, but technology IS powerful. When used in moderation and with intentionally, it can be a tool that helps us accomplish the work God has given us. Paul said it best, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
Below are a few strategies I’ve implemented in my life to prevent against becoming enslaved to technology.
Batching
While there are times throughout my day when I need to check my phone, there are even more times when I don’t need to. Batching means setting a certain time of the day to check things like social media, email or text messages. This strategy helps me put my phone away for longer chunks of time instead of checking it constantly throughout the day. For example, I allow myself a specific time to check Facebook and Instagram. If it’s not that time, I’m not checking it and I’m not thinking about it.
Leave the phone behind!
This one is TOUGH but so life-giving. Make it a goal to go a few places each day without your phone. Almost every day, I take a walk and listen to music. I’ve recently felt God nudging me to leave my phone behind and walk in silence. It’s in those quiet, still moments without music that God has spoken to my heart, reminding me that I am loved, I have a purpose and that He is with me always.
In one of my favorite podcasts called “Fight Hustle, End Hurry,” co-host Jefferson Bethske shares, “I don’t bring my phone into any place where there are other humans I should be talking to.” I love this boundary. If I’m somewhere that requires social interaction, why not just leave the temptation of my phone in the car? I don’t need a phone when I’m with others, so this is a great opportunity to ditch it!
Placement
I want to be completely transparent and say I’ve fallen off the bandwagon with this one. My husband and I went through a season where we put our phones in our spare bedroom every night at 9:00 p.m. and did not touch them until the morning. During this season, we were blessed with great conversations, sound sleep and less anxiety because we weren’t doom scrolling right before bed. This is a habit I feel inspired to pick back up because of the positive impact it had on our relationship and me as an individual!
These are just a few strategies that have helped my struggles with technology, but we all have different weaknesses in this area. Below are a variety of resources that could help you or a loved one with other common technology struggles.
Technology resources for:
Parents - https://www.growingfathers.com/protecting-your-teenagers-online/
Adults - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/11213-decoding-and-overcoming-smartphone-addiction/day/4
If you or a loved one has difficulty setting boundaries around technology, counseling could be a great option for you! Click here for more information about our counseling services.
