Friday, July 12, 2024

Have you ever come home after a long day at work, flopped on the couch to chill out by scrolling on your phone only to look up and realize two hours has passed?

Ronald Rolheiser Ronald Rolheiser once said “We, for every kind of reason, good and bad, are distracting ourselves into oblivion.” It's doubtful anyone plans for a shallow, frantic life due to distraction, but in our digital-driven world, it’s easy to do. After all, the little devices in our pockets are programmed with algorithms to keep us engaged.

In our modern age, our devices are typically the worst enemy of our spiritual growth. Rather than attend a Group, read our Bible, or devote time to prayer, we scroll. Technology has its place and can be an amazing tool, but often hours are wasted on mindless videos and posts—hours we’ll never get back. And, afterward we’re left feeling unsatisfied, envious, and even more frazzled because of the time spent scrolling instead of doing other, more life-giving things.

We also battle constant pings from friends, colleagues, and news notifications, making it harder to disconnect from our obligations. We are always on duty, always dealing with something new.

Regularly unplugging from technology is an important facet of living at a pace of peace.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Silence notifications from social media and news apps to keep from being interrupted by your device.
• Put your phone on grayscale mode.
• Put your phone on do not disturb.
• Set timers on the most distracting apps and sites to lock yourself out when you hit your limit.
• Put your device to bed before yourself. Avoid looking at screens for two hours prior to bedtime to help your body downshift. The blue light from your device affects the body’s ability to relax.
• Let people know you’re taking a tech break one day per week. Try putting your phone away in another room for a whole day.

While the Bible doesn’t directly address our era of smartphones and social media, it does have a lot to say about our attention. “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV)

When we set intentional boundaries around our devices and the online company we keep, we ensure we’re using technology instead of letting it use us. We create space for what matters most in life—our passions, our loved ones, and our spiritual health.