According to a recent study, in 2020, the average adult spent more than three hours a day on social media. [1]. Never before has there been a generation with so much information at our fingertips. Every moment we’re connected, we’re notified of weather disasters, accidents, mass shootings, missing people, the COVID death rate, and reports of violent crime in every city on the planet. Meanwhile, we take in endless information from our social circles. Scroll for ninety seconds, and you’ll know where your third-grade teacher is vacationing, who your neighbor is voting for in the next election, and why your college friend is getting Botox after her recent divorce. It’s an enormous amount of information to process.
In recent generations, most people have been aware of what was going on in their immediate social circle and civic arena. That’s no longer the case—social media has expanded the circle exponentially. Although information can be a good thing, studies show significant amounts of social media use can cause an increase in depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. [2] Yes, we want to be informed and connected to other people, but where do we find balance? And how do we know when it’s time to take a break and unplug?
In the gospels, you’ll see that Jesus was constantly engaged in people’s lives. His routine schedule included preaching, training disciples, healing people, and dealing with religious leaders who opposed Him. And yet, Jesus made it a habit to be alone and tend to His spiritual life. The gospel of Mark says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying” (Mark 1:35).
Jesus made it a routine practice to disconnect and be alone with the Father. And He engaged this practice regardless of how busy He was or what crises were looming. Just a couple verses later, the text says, “Simon and his companions searched for him, and when they found they said, Everyone is looking for you” (Mark 1:37).
If time alone with the Father took precedent over Jesus’s ministry, how should this instruct us as modern-day believers? The issue isn’t really about “if” we should unplug, but a matter of “when and how” we unplug. Technology is here to stay, so it’s up to us to learn how to manage it. Here are some suggestions to try to find what works best for you.
- Set aside time each day when you disconnect and engage in spiritual disciplines like Bible reading and prayer.
- Unplug for a whole weekend. Take your social media apps off your phone at 5 p.m. on Friday, and don’t sign in again until Monday morning.
- Unplug during vacations.
- Spend an extended time off social media. Unplug for a week, a month, or a season. As you spend time offline, take note of how it impacts your well-being.
There’s no right or wrong way to unplug, and everyone will have to find what works best. But if we find ourselves habitually worn-down, distracted, and short-tempered, it may be we’re on information overload and need to take a break. The writer Anne Lamott said, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
What have you learned from unplugging? What habits are beneficial to you? Please share in the comments below.
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[1] https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/screentime-report/
[2] https://time.com/4793331/instagram-social-media-mental-health/
