Healthy Boundaries with Technology are Crucial for Personal and Professional Growth

Technology has swiftly transformed our lives, enhancing how we work, play, and live. Yet, it's uncommon to pause and reflect on the nuanced, accumulative effects of technology on our minds, bodies, and souls. Given its omnipresence and the near-limitless connectivity, technology defaults to an 'always-on' state in our lives. Recognizing the mental toll of this constant connection and proactively instilling self-discipline is crucial.

By default, we pick up our phone when we are bored

Historically, various religions and cultures have acknowledged human limitations and the necessity for rest and relaxation, embedding practices like Sabbath days or meditation into their communities. Older generations, who experienced life before smartphones, often reminisce about a simpler era that seemed more rewarding and significant. In contrast, the younger generation, with no memory of a time before smartphones, lacks a frame of reference for a life unconnected. It is vital for everyone to consciously, regularly, and proactively disconnect from the digital realm and reconnect with the tangible world and those around us. This practice is a beneficial habit that fosters our well-being. Here are three tips to help preserve our humanity and sanity in a world saturated with technology.

Taking Technology Breaks

Here's a challenge: Could you place your smartphone in a drawer for 24 hours and still go about your life? Or even for 6 hours? How often would you feel the urge to check the drawer? Let's face it, we've become dependent on these handheld devices, and this dependency steals from us the ability to live in the moment and deeply connect with those around us.

If the initial challenge seems daunting, begin by setting a time each night to turn off your phone and keep it in a different room from your bedroom. Spending the last two hours of your day without the blue screen can enhance both the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Consider another challenge: Take a vacation and leave your phone at home. Whether it's a camping trip or a hike, being unreachable by email or phone for a period can be a freeing experience. Like any diet, the initial days may be tough, but persevering through this discomfort can bring immense benefits and fulfillment. When you reach this state, 'capture the moment'. You're not rejecting modern technology, but rather reclaiming your humanity by ensuring technology serves you, not the other way around.

Strategic Limits

Corporations often push us to 'Download our App' to order food or require two-factor authentication (2FA) for login. Our smartphone screens are buried in app folders, and we've conditioned ourselves to check our phones constantly.

Consider auditing your phone and smart TV apps and subscriptions. If you haven't used an app in months, consider deleting it to declutter your mind and possibly save money and time.

Apple offers 'Time Controls and Restrictions' for its devices, useful not only for children but also for adults to manage screen time. Decide in advance how you'll use technology, set a time limit, and once reached, disconnect. Go outside, 'Touch Some Grass,' take a walk without headphones, or engage in a hobby away from screens. Your mental health will thank you.

As a parent of four, I recognize that I haven't always set or maintained healthy technology boundaries for myself or my children. It's a common oversight. Therefore, don't be overly critical of yourself. Instead, use the past as a stepping stone to establish a new and improved lifestyle from this day forward. Your future remains unwritten, and you have the opportunity to create a life that harnesses technology without being dominated by it.

Personal Face-time

Building self-discipline involves more than just eliminating negative behaviors; it's also about forming healthy habits. Take stock of friends you enjoy being around. Schedule a time to meet with them in person and leave your phone at home. Since two-thirds of communication is non-verbal, human connection thrives on community and eye contact, leading to deeper understanding and joy.

Additionally, create a plan with a friend to establish new habits free from technology. Consider partnering up to go to the gym together, supporting each other in achieving your set goals.

If you want to explore this topic more, a helpful book to read is "12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You".

Book Summary:

Within just a few years of its introduction, the smartphone has become an integral part of our daily lives. Always on, always within reach, we hold in our hands a magic wand of technological power whose full potential we are only starting to understand. Yet, this brings new paradoxes; the more connected we are, the more distant we seem to grow. The more efficient we become, the more distracted we are.

Drawing on the insights of various thinkers, published research, and his own studies, author Tony Reinke identifies twelve significant ways our smartphones have transformed us, for better and worse. Reinke urges us to develop wise thinking and healthy habits in the digital era, to embrace the many advantages, sidestep the numerous pitfalls, and skillfully manage the most potent device of human connection ever created.

If the above video and description has spiked your interest, you can order the physical book on Amazon or Listen to it on Audible.

The ACS Foundation supports technology when it is used as a tool for humanity's good. We must regularly spring clean our lives to ensure we do not become a slave to technology. There is a season for everything. If your season is looking for an internship or graduate role in tech, visit our open roles.