Devotionals

Take Back Control of Your Life - Wise Tips for Using Gadgets

By novia collis · August 17, 2021 · 6 min read

Can you imagine life without gadgets? Certainly hard, right. Gadgets, or electronic devices, such as computers, laptops, tablet computers, and mobile phones, make life feel so easy and practical. All kinds of tasks can be done with one device, from phone calls, chat, setting calendars and alarms, accessing documents, to playing games, accessing social media, and ordering food or motorcycle taxis / taxis online.

Sadly, the impact of gadgets is not always good. People have become so dependent on devices that many have already reached the stage of addiction. Research conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, in 2019 showed that people can touch their devices as many as 2,617 times a day. The average daily device use is 10 hours and 39 minutes. In fact, 73% of Americans feel anxious if they lose their gadgets .

Are you experiencing something similar? How can you recognize the signs of gadget addiction, and how can you overcome it?

Signs of Gadget

How do you know that you are addicted to gadgets? It is easy, start by checking the priorities of your life You surely have a list of things that need to be done every day: school, college, work, taking care of the household, and so on. When a device helps you do all of them, it becomes useful in your hands.

On the other hand, when your schedule and priorities start to fall apart because of gadgets, that is where the addiction begins. Time that should be used for work is instead taken up by watching videos or reading other people's statuses. When you should be showering and eating breakfast after waking up, you instead keep scrolling through news or tweets.

So, why is gadget addiction gadget bad?

Using devices excessively can trigger the hormone dopamine, which gives a pleasant feeling because you do or get something. The problem is that dopamine does not produce a sense of satisfaction that can stop the activity. So, the more often this dopamine is released, the more eagerly we do or seek something to get even more pleasure.

In short, dopamine makes you feel happy using gadgets. However, you will be driven to keep using them in order to get a similar effect. This is why you are then pushed to keep playing games, checking social media, or watching videos without stopping.

Another negative impact of excessive gadget use is that your eyesight is disturbed because you are often exposed to blue light from phone or computer screens. Not only that, exposure to blue light can also result in insomnia (difficulty sleeping) and reduced concentration.

Master Your Device, Not the Other Way Around

To overcome gadget addiction, you need to draw a line: What is your priority? Gadgets, or your responsibilities and obligations? This does not mean gadgets are bad, but when you would rather check Instagram or play games online than meet a work deadline, it means your priorities are starting to shift.

In the proper place, gadgets help you work and stay connected with the people closest to you. However, if these tools instead interfere with your work and actually make you not connected with your family, spouse, or friends, it means you are already addicted to gadgets. Without realizing it, you have wasted a lot of valuable time on less important activities.

What does the Bible say about this? 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but I will not let myself be mastered by anything.” Paul emphasized that the Corinthians should be careful with the freedom they had.

Your gadget is your right and your freedom. However, without proper boundaries, that right and freedom will instead hinder you. At this point, you must decide that you are the one who controls yourgadget , not the gadget

So, how do you use devices wisely?

1. Limit Your Usage Time

A proverb says that anything excessive is not good. This also applies to the use of gadgets. Proverbs 25:28 says, “A person who lacks self-control is like a city whose walls are broken down.” If you cannot control the amount of time you use your phone, your life will certainly become chaotic.

Start by limiting your gadgetuse. If you previously spent four hours watching YouTube or Netflix, try reducing it to two hours. If you usually play games for six hours, try to play only three hours.

Changing habits is certainly not easy. For that reason, you can do it gradually. From six hours to three hours, and then to just one hour per day. There is no need to change drastically right away, but take realistic steps that can be achieved. If necessary, use the alarm feature or a timer to tell you when it is time to stop. It does feel hard at first, but little by little it will surely work.

2. Delete Unnecessary Apps

This step is quite extreme, but if you are already deeply addicted, it is worth trying. Install the apps you truly need, and remove the apps that can encourage you to waste time.

A few years ago, I was very active on Facebook, especially when I had just gotten my first phone. As a result, I lost concentration easily and often became anxious because of reading people's statuses. In the end, I decided to remove the app, and now my life is more peaceful.

Using gadgets for important needs can actually bring good benefits: a clearer mind, better concentration, and a more productive life. You can focus more on things that are more meaningful and valuable, namely pursuing God.

This is in line with what Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14: “… forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”