Tech-Life Balance

Sr. Christina shares insights from a book on achieving balance and mastery over smartphones and social media. 

If you’re like me, you’ve struggled to find a healthy balance in your use of technology. In that case, the book, Tech-Life Balance: 101 Ways to Thrive in a Digital World may prove helpful to you.   

This interesting work by Taíno Bendz shares many insights and practical suggestions on how to take charge of your use of electronics, or more specifically, Attention Getting Technology (AGT), as the author calls it.

Bendz shares fascinating physiological background, explaining how the bright colors and other aspects of our smartphones trigger the release of dopamine in our system, and encourage us to keep coming back for more. 

It is so easy to get pulled into wasting time with technology, which can pull us away from meaningful relationships and steal our happiness.   

Although this book does not center on a faith-based perspective, it gives the reader lots of tools in her pocket for living her Christian life in a healthier manner, with technology use in its proper place.   

It shares how a little bit of self-discipline (and teaching your phone who’s boss) can move us in the right direction.  

The author, in combining science, psychology, and contemporary experience, gives readers a great starting place in striving for a more balanced and ordered use of Attention Getting Technology.   

Some tips he offered include: turning off your phone at least one half-hour before bed, putting your phone away in a designated spot when not in use, not using your phone right away in the morning, and setting aside times of your day and year to be phone-free.   

There is even a special section in the book geared toward navigating this issue as it pertains to children and family life. 

You’ll have to read the book to get all the other great points the author makes.   

Whether you’ve been grappling with proper boundaries in technology use for a while now or it’s something that’s just come to your attention, I’d encourage Tech-Life Balance as a help to you on your journey.   

The lessons in this book merit a hearing in today’s technologically obsessed world. 

Copyright 2023 Sr. Christina Marie Neumann, OSF
Images: Canva
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