“YOU DID WHAT? You really took the internet out of your home? How can you function? How do you get your work done? Why?”
These were my questions and concerns when a friend of mine told me that she decided to take back her family from the distractions of technology.
I admit wholeheartedly that I am part of the distracted tech world. Everyone I know is. I see it all around me. Kids and adults are plugged in as they drive to school, as they “relax” in the living room, or even as they sit in church. The addiction to click, text, and surf is hard to lay down. For all the instant gratification that technology gives us , there’s a price to pay. It takes away our most valuable posession that we have on this earth….time.
While researching for this article, I added up my screen time, including the TV, excluded the time that I generally have to spend on the computer for work, and realized that I would gain about eight hours of time back for one week! That’s a lot of time!! With that time, I determined that I would develop a list of creative, tanglible ways to spend my time each week.
What I realized I could do with that time was amazing! I could let go of my outside house help and begin cleaning my home myself, saving me lots of money btw! I found that I could garden a little more every week, which I love… and, I found that I would have time to cook a lot more. Everything on my list used different parts of my brain as well as my body. This inspired me as well because it’s a proven fact that movement increases brain function! Lord knows, I need more of that!!!
After making my list, I was pretty happy, but then I started thinking deeply about the things I wrote down. They were all great things, but the list I made was pretty selfish. As well, and most importantly, the list was not of eternal value for the Lord. So, back to the drawing board! A new list was drawn:
1. Enjoy God’s creation outdoors and worship him while doing so through praise, adoration and prayer.
2. Spend more time in Bible study with my 18 year old daughter, who will be leaving for college in a few months!
3. Volunteer with my son, who has a side business fixing computers for a Christian Refugee Ministry, who needs computers installed in order to teach the refugees computer skills for job placement. That would also allow me time to show them the love of Christ! Also, by working with my son, I am showing him how important it is to give back to society in an eternal way!
Okay, this was better. I was on a roll!
As I contemplated other ways to use my time wisely and build the kingdom of Christ, I thought about many hobbies outside of home where you could join with other people within the community and spread the Love of Jesus. This is what I came up with:
4. Start an outdoor club and go on hiking and biking excursions in the community with new friends.
5. Begin a community Bible study in my own neighborhood!
6. Host monthly dinners in my home for people who are new to Atlanta.
Will I do all these things? I don’t know, but the creative juices were flowing, and I was amazed at how the simple act of turning off the computer or putting down the phone could bring many people to Christ if my mission and purpose was to share the love of Christ with all those who participate with me in these endeavors. This technology trade off could be incredible! I’m excited and in prayer about my list.
Bottom Line: If we value the limited time that God has blessed us with an eternal mindset, we will be on our way to overcoming the distraction of Technology.
Psalm 90:12 – So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
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So much truth here. To be responsible with my commitments, getting rid of the internet isn’t an option. And admittedly, even if it was, it would be very very hard. However, something a little smaller that I could commit to was to turn off the notifications on my phone. Everything that was my phone telling me (news, podcasts, even email) and only leaving on communication from people (phone, text). I also shifted around my homescreen so only about 4-6 important apps were on my homescreen, everything else was put into folders on other screens so I couldn’t see them. Out of sight=out of mind=more time to focus. And hopefully that better focus is directed to our one true Father.
Javon,
Thank you for responding. You are some great solutions you came up with! I think I will incorporate the one about notifications. I can’t believe how much time I spend checking them! So unnecessary and draws my attention away from what I’m trying to focus on! Have a great day and God bless you!
So much truth here. To be responsible with my commitments, getting rid of the internet isn’t an option. And admittedly, even if it was, it would be very very hard. However, something a little smaller that I could commit to was to turn off the notifications on my phone. Everything that was my phone telling me (news, podcasts, even email) and only leaving on communication from people (phone, text). I also shifted around my homescreen so only about 4-6 important apps were on my homescreen, everything else was put into folders on other screens so I couldn’t see them. Out of sight=out of mind=more time to focus. And hopefully that better focus is directed to our one true Father.
Javon,
Thank you for responding. You are some great solutions you came up with! I think I will incorporate the one about notifications. I can’t believe how much time I spend checking them! So unnecessary and draws my attention away from what I’m trying to focus on! Have a great day and God bless you!
Yes! Yes! Yes! We have a device that sets time limits for the kids… however, I need to set time limits for myself too!!
Yes! Yes! Yes! We have a device that sets time limits for the kids… however, I need to set time limits for myself too!!
Heather,
Thanks for your comment. I find that my facebook time limit is the most important one! It’s amazing how quickly time goes by on that site!! Have a great day with Jesus!!
Heather,
Thanks for your comment. I find that my facebook time limit is the most important one! It’s amazing how quickly time goes by on that site!! Have a great day with Jesus!!
It is easy to get addicted to social media and technology. However, it’s the best way to build communication with the grandkids and therefore, a necessity in this day and time. It’s important to maintain a balance as it is with all areas of life.
Frieda,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, in today’s world, we musn’t get behind in our knowledge of how to use technology, because we’ve got to keep up with those millennials!!! Balance is key!! Have a fantastic day!
It is easy to get addicted to social media and technology. However, it’s the best way to build communication with the grandkids and therefore, a necessity in this day and time. It’s important to maintain a balance as it is with all areas of life.
Frieda,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, in today’s world, we musn’t get behind in our knowledge of how to use technology, because we’ve got to keep up with those millennials!!! Balance is key!! Have a fantastic day!
I like this. It’s a great reminder to shift our perspective. Remember when folks used to feel this way about TV?
Nylse,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, I do remember this about TV. There’s always something to take our eyes away from what’s truely important. Have a fantastic day!!
I like this. It’s a great reminder to shift our perspective. Remember when folks used to feel this way about TV?
Nylse,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, I do remember this about TV. There’s always something to take our eyes away from what’s truely important. Have a fantastic day!!
It’s so nice to meet you, Stephanie, and I really loved your encouraging words to set our tech habits aside to spend more time with God. For Lent, I gave up Facebook – wasn’t easy at first, but it did afford me more leisure to pursue activities that were more meaningful. As Frieda mentioned above, we all need to strike a healthy balance in our lives.
Blessings to you!
Martha,
Nice to meet you too! I think that’s a great decision you made. Balance is definitely key. Enjoy the sunshine today!!
It’s so nice to meet you, Stephanie, and I really loved your encouraging words to set our tech habits aside to spend more time with God. For Lent, I gave up Facebook – wasn’t easy at first, but it did afford me more leisure to pursue activities that were more meaningful. As Frieda mentioned above, we all need to strike a healthy balance in our lives.
Blessings to you!
Martha,
Nice to meet you too! I think that’s a great decision you made. Balance is definitely key. Enjoy the sunshine today!!
Stephanie, once again you give me wonderful wise words of guidance just when I can use them most! With my schedule about to change and get so much busier I certainly need to do my own analysis in this area. Social media and technology are tools that can be used in valuable ways for Godly purposes but, like many things, must be balanced in our lives!
Vicki,
Thank you! It’s always good to analyze and then reprioritize. I am so happy for your new adventure! God is bringing you His best and you are going to thrive working for Him to bring others to Christ through Bible Translation. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you soon!
Stephanie, once again you give me wonderful wise words of guidance just when I can use them most! With my schedule about to change and get so much busier I certainly need to do my own analysis in this area. Social media and technology are tools that can be used in valuable ways for Godly purposes but, like many things, must be balanced in our lives!
Vicki,
Thank you! It’s always good to analyze and then reprioritize. I am so happy for your new adventure! God is bringing you His best and you are going to thrive working for Him to bring others to Christ through Bible Translation. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you soon!
Beautiful! I like the outdoor activities you have shared with us.
It’simportant we devout time to real life connections and make sure they not suffer as a result of our constant screen activities!
Thanks for the linkup.
God bless
Ifeoma,
Thank you so much for your comment. I’m glad the post spoke to your heart. God is good. He definitely wants our connections with other people to be “real life”. Staying close to the hearts of other people requires sacrifice and it gets harder and harder the busier we get! The merry go round of the world will never slow down, but we always have the option to step off. Have a blessed day!
Beautiful! I like the outdoor activities you have shared with us.
It’simportant we devout time to real life connections and make sure they not suffer as a result of our constant screen activities!
Thanks for the linkup.
God bless
Ifeoma,
Thank you so much for your comment. I’m glad the post spoke to your heart. God is good. He definitely wants our connections with other people to be “real life”. Staying close to the hearts of other people requires sacrifice and it gets harder and harder the busier we get! The merry go round of the world will never slow down, but we always have the option to step off. Have a blessed day!