Rest in the Digital Age
by Christina Bledsoe
According to www.demandsage.com, the average American spends 7 hours and 3 minutes per day staring at a screen, checking their phone an average of 96 times per day.
423 minutes is 29% of a day. Let that sink in.
This fact piqued my curiosity and I checked my own average screen time (if you have an iPhone, you can check your screen time by going to Settings then scrolling to Screen Time.) Thankfully, my number was below average, but still a shocking amount of time spent staring at a six-by-three-inch screen.
As Marketing Director for e2: effective elders, it is part of my job to stay connected to email and social media. I diligently follow our partner churches on Facebook and Instagram and delight in reading updates on VBS, CIY, baptisms, and church events. Prayer requests and health updates shared electronically allow the e2 staff to pray for others, and obituaries provide the opportunity to grieve alongside others and share condolences. For all the negativity social media receives, I love keeping up with long distance friends and family, and nothing warms my heart more than baby and puppy photos and videos.
Years ago, I noticed many of my Christian Facebook friends giving up social media for Lent. There were dramatic posts made about signing off to spend time with the Lord and using the time spent on social media to study the Bible instead. However, the minute all the Easter eggs were found I noticed these dutiful friends frantically logging back on to catch up on what they had missed the previous 40 days. Since that season of Lent, I have rarely seen the same individuals offer the same sacrifice. For most of us, social media has simply become a part of daily life and how we stay connected.
Just like our bodies need rest, our brains need to rest from the constant barrage of news, emails, and information. In her book, Sacred Rest, Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, writes: “When our senses continue receiving incoming information without a break, the nervous system becomes too congested to process the information appropriately. The result is a decline in happiness, stifled creativity, mental restlessness, and blunted performance. Ultimately your overall health suffers because of inadequate sensory rest.”
So, what happens when the amount of screen time robs you of sensory rest and healthy balance? I will not insult you with the suggestion of simply turning your phone off; we live in a connected world, and most do not have the luxury of completely disconnecting. However, I will offer suggestions that provide me with boundaries for my own screen time usage:
Turn off notifications: you do not need to know about the latest news story; sports score or that your Kohl’s cash is about to expire. I have never once regretted disabling notifications on my phone. Unless you are a first responder, you can live without notifications.
iPhone users can enable Downtime and App Limits features to limit time spent on your phone and specific apps. Yes, your iPhone provides safeguards to protect you from overusing your phone. How ironic.
Add a Bible or prayer app to your phone. Spend time with God before your log in to social media apps, it changes your day.
If Jesus walked the earth today, I imagine he would have an iPhone (sorry Android users) and He would use it only for good: an encouraging group text with the disciples, letting Mary and Martha know He was running late for dinner. Most importantly, He would know when to turn off the phone and spend time resting with the Father. Can you say the same?
