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I did the survey đź‘Ť
Bestest Teddy Bear
#AnduthForever (❤️)My parents use their phones in a healthy way, as does the husband and wife of dear family friends. (their kids don’t have phones either) but honestly the majority of the people i see and know spend more time on their phone than on anything else.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
Aight Jonas, did it
My boundaries aren’t super good right now, but this semester was technology-heavy because of my thesis, so I’ve been focusing on that. I think stress avoidance plays a huge factor for me, and being on technology distracting myself is better than crashing in a stressful situation.
And in all honesty, the things I use my phone for are the most tame things. I’m either writing, digital drawing, or listening to music. There’s no social media and I’ve never touched the popular apps.
If I were to do better… Hm. Find other outlets. I get frisky when I’m not creating stuff, but there’s got to be another outlet somewhere for me to use.
My friends are all pretty good with their phones (for young adults, that is). Yeah, lots of teens are known for being glued to their phones, but they’re mostly there for the social gratification. If your outside social group is healthy and available, you’re less likely to get attached to the online social group. It’s as simple as that. I believe many phone addictions are a response to that need.
"If I don't like something, it's probably sanctification. Ugh." -E.C.S.
Alright, filled it.
If you pluck them, they explode. Goro.
We don’t have a lot of boundaries, but we didn’t get our own phones until last year or the year before that. I think the main thing is that phones have to be in the living room at night—which is a law I’m we have because I had the bad habit of being on my phone late into the night and even really early in the morning, watching/looking at dumb or random stuff. My sleep schedule was quite thrown off as well. I tried once to make a rule for myself that phone needed to be out of the room by nine, but the temptation was quite strong. So yeah, I’m happy about the phones-in-the-livingroom situation, and it was something that needed to happen.
Don’t look at bad things, be careful of videos, avoid sketchy websites—just general stuff. We also don’t have social media accounts.
We’re pretty chill.
We do use our phones a bit for our hobbies—especially my brother who does stop motion animation and my sister who resales. But we go without our phones sometimes and don’t have too much of a problem… at least I don’t.
I’m not glued to my phone… at least not as much as I am to my computer (but that’s a whole different situation)…
If you pluck them, they explode. Goro.
I totally agree with you! Waking up early is so refreshing for an excellent start of the day! And you also get to see the sunrise…
"He who never quotes will never be quoted." ~Charles Spurgeon
I don’t have phones, but my family does have a rule we aren’t allowed to bring technology into our rooms. Exceptions are made for the house phone for music or audiobooks, and occasionally the tablet for school. I don’t know that I’ve seen someone using tech super healthily. Maybe my mom. Neither of my parents are that bad with it, but my dad acknowledges that he spends too much time on his phone. We also allow no phones at the table. I don’t think any of my friends, who have phones, use them in a healthy way.
To err is human; to arr is pirate.
One principle my parents have taught us is that technology is a tool, not a toy. That tech can be used for good or evil.
We also have a standard that we stop using screens after 8pm. The bluelight from the screens disrupts your dopamine which you need in order to sleep well.
We also do not use iPhones and comupters alone in our rooms unless for video calls.
We also have some principles written out to keep in mind when we use tech:
a. Have I fulfilled my responsibilities for today?
b. How is this profitable (in other words, does this contribute toward the development of godly traits or help to accomplish biblical responsibilities in my life or in the lives of others? Does this edify others, or, stated in another way, is this the biblically loving thing to do?
c. How does this glorify God?
I know we’ve all seen/experienced unhealthy usage, but have you observed someone who was using it in a healthy way?
Yes! My father is one of my biggest examples for utilizing tech in a healthy, balanced way. He works on the computer a lot, but sets spesific times for that. He studies about the balance of tech for your health. He advises taking breaks through screen time to be outside and walk. But he also loves to veg on good films when it’s the weekends and after he’s completed important work.
He has a great saying: “Deep worship, deep work, deep play.” Another one is: “We work hard, and play hard.”
It kind of reminds me of the verse: “Whatever your hand find to do, do it with all your might.”
One verses I memorized to help me use my time wisely was: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” Colo 4:5, and “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God.” Colo 3:17
My father has also read a lot about using tech. He’s learned how it negatively effects your health and implements ways to balance our usage of tech. He loves Cal Newport’s books. They are amazing.
So, he teaches my family a lot about the right usage of technology. I’m very grateful for that!
"He who never quotes will never be quoted." ~Charles Spurgeon
If your outside social group is healthy and available, you’re less likely to get attached to the online social group. It’s as simple as that. I believe many phone addictions are a response to that need.
That is truth right there… the lack of healthy community can very easily lead to any type of addiction. I was reading a book about brain science, and relational joy (what happens when our brain picks up from facial cues that someone else is happy to be with us) literally is like fuel for our brains, and the lack of that leads us to seek it in other things that provide a quick dopamine hit but falls flat after a bit, leading us to seek more, until it becomes an addiction.
 I think the main thing is that phones have to be in the living room at night—which is a law I’m we have because I had the bad habit of being on my phone late into the night and even really early in the morning, watching/looking at dumb or random stuff.
I love that… I know, it’s much easier to stick to a rule when you’re doing it with other people and not just trying to enforce it yourself. I would love to leave my phone in the living room overnight, but I’m type 1 diabetic and I wear a monitor to track my blood sugar levels. I need to have my phone nearby overnight so that if my blood sugar is going too low or too high it alarms and I can wake up to treat it. I’ve been pretty good at not being on my phone after 9 pm (I also set it to grayscale mode overnight, which is supposed to lessen the blue light, too) but the biggest challenge for me right now is staying off my phone in the morning until after I’ve had time with Jesus.
I love the principles you shared! It doesn’t fall to the extreme of not using technology at all, but gives the boundaries and rules a reason that makes sense and also motivates. It can be easy to say, “Don’t do this or that because it’s bad,” but knowing the why behind setting a boundary makes it much easier to abide by the boundary.
Personally, one thing I would love to start doing is having one day a week (hopefully Sunday) as a tech-free day, where I don’t touch devices all day. My only challenge in this is that my parents want me to have my phone if I’m gone or they’re gone, in case something happens that they need to get ahold of me, so it may look like just turning off my phone for several hours when I don’t need it, and then when it is turned on, keeping it out of reach unless it rings.
We also have a rule of no phones at the table, which I also try to stick to even if I’m the only person eating at the time, because I got into the habit of being on my phone during meals that weren’t with my family, and I’d rather be able to use that time to enjoy my food and process my day.
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
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