My Practices for Creating Healthy Boundaries with Technology

/

This past month of social distancing has brought a big magnifying glass to my life. I’ve been able to see what's there, close-up.

So, one of the things I felt strongly about as I went into quarantine was, "I need to have a healthy relationship with technology."

I'm like many other people in that I've struggled with maintaining healthy boundaries when it comes to computers, phones, apps, and social media.

It all boils down to this: Technology is a tool. I need to use it, but not let it use me.

This is great in theory, but what does it really look like? That's what I've been trying to find out.

One of the blessings of this situation is that every day can start to have the same rhythms, so not only can I look closely at what my habits actually are, but each day I also have the chance to change them for the better.

One of the practices that I try to keep is staying off social media, email, and even my computer starting Friday evening and lasting until about Monday morning. I still use these things as needed, but I don't let sitting on the couch, scrolling through the same posts I've already seen, take over my Sunday afternoon. (If this is totally your jam, I'm not knocking it. It's just not for me and here's why.) It doesn't fill me up. It actually tends to empty me.

That's also why I practice creating content each day before I consume content. The exception here is listening to an inspirational podcast in the morning when I walk the dog or eat breakfast. Not only do I just know from experience that the notification addiction is real, and if I start early I'll likely want to keep looking at social media throughout the day, but my ability to create what I want each day can be affected by starting my day seeing what other people are creating.

It's like I just need to be in my own little world for a bit each day and week. And especially now, when connecting digitally is one of the only ways we can connect, well … I know I need to have healthy boundaries.

By taking on the two practices of (1.) having tech-free (ish) weekends and (2.) creating before I consume, I've been able to enjoy the time I do spend on social media—as well as not feel bound by it. At least not as much as I did when this thing first started.

And check it out, it’s helping me get outside more:

It’s also helped me be more creative:

And now it's helping me share all of this with you.

I'm curious to know, in what ways has technology been something you've needed to negotiate over the past few weeks? In what ways has it been a saving grace? I feel it is very much a saving grace as well.

Let me know in the comments below!