Screens have become such a huge part of our lives, especially for those the age of most people reading this blog. How do you let someone know something quickly? What do you do when you have ten extra spare minutes before it's time to leave the house? What do you do at night when you've finished everything you have to do? What do you do when you're wondering whether you should wear a coat or light jacket the next day? What do you do when you're wondering if the balance in your checkbook matches the bank's? It all involves a screen! If you're like me, some of your work and school is even on a screen! There isn't anything wrong with this. The age of the internet and more access to affordable devices makes our lives more efficient and productive. If we let it anyway. But that's our choice. Do we let them make our lives more efficient? Or do we let them make our lives slow, unproductive, and (in the end) depressing? It all comes down to small choices. I think we've probably all been there, where we find ourselves sitting in front of our phone or laptop looking at random things just for the sake of looking at them. We're bored with it, but it sure is easier than finding something else to do. So we just go ahead and do it anyway. Then we look at the clock and realize that an hour and a half has gone by. And we feel guilty and unfulfilled, like we've lost out on part of our day. It doesn't have to control us though. We can choose to use our screens for our benefit, a bit of entertainment at times, and forgo the bondage that it places our mind in. Let's look at seven ways to help us do just that! Find the Root of the ProblemWhen we need to lessen our screen time, the problem usually isn't that we spend too much time on a screen. That's a symptom of the problem. The problem might be that you feel lonely, so you're turning to online relationships. The problem could be that you're feeling unfulfilled about your life, so you're reading an excess of articles and tips on how to make it better. The problem could be that you want validation and are seeking it from people, so you're posting on Instagram and then constantly checking to see your likes and comments. For me, I've noticed that the problem could be that I'm bored and, instead of finding a goal to work towards and accomplish or seeking out a sibling or parent or someone to invest in and in turn have fun with, I'm being lazy and finding entertainment from a screen (and then in turn, I don't get to what I actually want to do because I'm being lazy in the moment). So, get together with in-person friends. Seek God for fulfillment and help in your life, and then move on trusting Him. Remember who you are in Christ instead of looking for validation from social media. Schedule your free time. Treat the problem, not just the symptom. Eliminate What You Do on a ScreenThis is something that I found helpful. I used to write alot on my laptop. But a friend of mine really liked writing on an Alphasmart NEO, which is basically like a keyboard with a tiny little screen that looks like a calculator. It did cost some money, but it was totally worth it. Now I can still write my stories, but I'm not on a screen when I'm doing it. It actually makes writing more fun! Another thing I used to do alot on my laptop was talk with writing friends online through email or another platform. I eventually switched to primarily writing letters. Now I'm still getting to talk with them, but I'm not a screen doing it. Once again in this example, writing letters ended up being more fun anway. It might look different for you. It could be switching to reading the paperback edition of a book when you can rather than the ebook. It could be choosing to study only certain classes on an online platform (like Quizlet). It could be asking your parents about getting a physical textbook rather than doing all of school on a screen. It could be handwriting your to-do list in a planner or on a sticky note instead of typing it into your phone. These changes can make a big difference! Take a Fast from ScreensThis is easier for some than others. Some people mostly just use screens for entertainment, while others work on them or text frequently with family to keep in touch. Whatever the case may be, it can be helpful to cut down on all screen time that you practically can for a set amount of time. This could be fasting from social media, or it could be cutting out everything you do on a screen except work and school. Taking a break from being on a screen as much as you normally are can not only help you to realize where you want to turn to a screen instead of something more productive, but it can also help train your brain to find something else to do. Then, when you do go back to whatever it is you chose to fast from, you know better how to combat the urge to jump on a screen for entertainment too often. Make Specific GoalsA goal for cutting down on screen time like "Spend less time on screens" might not be the most helpful. Consider making a measurable goal or a plan for when you will be on the screen and when you won't. For instance, set aside a time of day for looking at certain sites or social media, and then don't get on them for the rest of the day. Or you could plan to only spend so many minutes looking at certain things or to only check email or whatever a certain amount of times. (You'll likely find that looking at these things will be more fun when you only do it once a day; it can end up being a time that you look forward to but don't necessarily miss during the rest of the day). Having a measurable plan is often the best way to succeed in this area. Use an Internet BlockerSometimes blocking the internet or certain sites altogether can be the most helpful. When you don't have the option to get on it, you can't even consider getting on it without realizing you can't. And, in the end, it makes your mind feel clearer and happier. There seem to be more internet blocking apps for phones, but the free version of Cold Turkey Blocker is one that I use and like for my laptop. (With Cold Turkey Blocker, I find it really helpful to just have it block certain websites during the hours that I'm most likely to be distracted by them, like when I'm doing school). Replace Screen Time with Other ActivitiesI don't know about y'all, but I find that I tend to struggle with being distracted by screens when I'm feeling bored and looking for something more fun to do than what I have to do. So, like we talked about earlier, treat the problem and not just the symptom. Find a fun activity that you'll feel more productive with than being on a screen to busy yourself with. Craft, learn an instrument, keep an entertaining book by your bed to read whenever you want, or start going on a walk when you feel that urge. (A book can be a good thing to take along with you to do when you're waiting in the car or in a waiting room and want something to do!) Avoid Screens at NightNight seems to be the time most people find it the most easy to make excuses and be on a screen more than they actually want to be, likely because we're tired. Maybe for you it's another time of day though. Whatever time of day that is, it can be wise to just avoid screens or certain distracting things on them during that time of day. (Though avoiding screens at night anyways does help your mind to feel more clear, and it's easier to meditate on Scripture or pray while falling asleep if you haven't been on your phone or whatever!) Cutting down on a screen time can feel daunting, but it really comes down to diagnosing why you are spending too much time on them, take the steps to change that, and then sticking to some simple habits. It's worth it to keep our minds clear and focused on what we need to be focused on! Is there anything that you've found helpful when thinking about cutting down on screen time?
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