The habit of disconnecting

At the end of 2017, during Erik’s sermon series on rest and renewal, I started thinking about what was really preventing me from resting. It’s easy to assume that busyness is the culprit, but I had a hunch my lack of rest was due to something deeper. After all, I always seem to find time for a Netflix binge. I knew that a lot of my time was spent scrolling through various social media feeds, and it seemed like an unnecessary yet constant distraction.
 
So I did a little experiment. I decided that on Sundays I would take a break from all social media. This probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I knew that for me this would radically change my habits.
 
I pretend that I have a good excuse for this addiction. My job essentially revolves around social media, and I was using that as a reason to constantly check my phone. I don’t mean like mindlessly checking my Facebook feed while waiting in line at the grocery store... I mean I was picking up my phone over 100 times per day. (Yes, I tracked this.)
 
We are called to pray without ceasing. I was checking my phone without ceasing.
 
In order to change my habits, I needed to draw a firm line, and Sunday seemed like the right place to start. In the first few weeks, I found myself picking my phone and opening the Instagram app before remembering what day it was. It took nearly a month before I really got into the habit of disconnecting on Sunday.
 
Two things happened during this year-long experiment. First of all, I had to get really honest about habits if I wanted to change them. I downloaded the Moment app to track how many minutes I was spending on my phone and how often I was picking it up. That was a true reality check. There was no way to deny that I was wasting time.
 
But more importantly, I also noticed a mindset shift. On days when I wasn’t constantly bombarding my mind with other people's vacation pictures, political rants, and avocado toast, I felt more grounded. It was easier to focus and to quiet my mind. As someone who has trouble with any sort of silent prayer or meditation time, this was a huge change. Maybe I’m not inherently “bad” at being still; maybe I just haven’t trained my brain to do it.
 
Taking a step back and separating myself from the steady stream of comparison was exactly what I needed. It’s not that I think all social media is negative, but the insatiable need to keep up with everything was actually holding me back.
 
I’ve tried to continue cultivating better habits into 2019. In a practical sense, I put time limits on the apps on my phone. Not only does it keep me from overdoing it, but it also reminds me how much time I’m investing in something, which holds me accountable.
 
I’ve also spent more time training myself to be still, to sit quietly, to pray and listen. Being aware of my habits made me realize that a lack of time can’t be my excuse. There are days when true rest doesn’t feel easy, but it does feel possible, and that seems like a good place to start.

(Written by Liz Thomson)