🤯What’s the most powerful way to teach and promote digital literacy and balance? By modeling it!
🤔As more and more things crowded by to-do list, I felt like every spare moment had to be productive; a walk became a walk while writing emails. A meal became eating while working. But this mostly made me feel like I was STILL behind and also having no personal time for myself.
✌️I decided to start observing a “tech Shabbat” or “tech sabbath” and have found it to be very beneficial. This is NOT a “detox” or a “fast” or anything that frames technology as bad.
🤯If anything, this isn’t about technology at all; it’s about prioritizing a time for rest, family, connection, and leisure.
🤨But of course, I can’t just not use a phone at all in the modern world; abstinence is rarely an option and it isn’t sustainable. Instead, I use a “focus” setting on my iphone (you can find this under “digital wellness” on Android).
Here’s how:
I searched for “focus” in the settings menu
I chose “personal” for the setting name
I chose a photo for my background that makes me feel at peace when I see it. I put widgets on my lock screen that go directly to the apps I will likely need, such as Maps, weather, and the clock. This keeps me from opening my phone unnecessarily or clicking on other apps.
I choose my home screen to show only apps that are vitally necessary. For me, that’s maps, messages, podcasts or music, a to-do list (to jot things down so I don’t feel the need to do them on the weekend), and anything needed for my child.
I set the focus to turn on every Friday evening and turn off every Sunday night.
🤯During this time I know my priority is to feel connected to myself and to others. How do I discuss this with my child? I don’t really! I know that this modeling is doing a lot of speaking on its own, and seeing me reading on my kindle or playing video games instead of answering email is showing my child that leisure time and time with loved ones is important.
