How to Develop Healthier Tech Habits in 2025 (Samuel James)
Dec 30, 2024
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Samuel James, an associate acquisitions editor at Crossway and author of 'Digital Liturgies,' delves into technology's profound impact on our lives. He highlights the need for intentional tech habits in 2025 to enhance relationships and personal growth. James emphasizes the importance of real-world connections and spiritual grounding, advocating practices like tech Sabbaths and morning rituals focused on scripture and prayer. He also addresses challenges in developing healthier tech habits, offering practical strategies to overcome them.
Reflecting on technology habits at the start of the year encourages intentionality and facilitates spiritual growth in individuals' lives.
Understanding the influence of different mediums on behavior helps individuals reshape their technology usage patterns to align more closely with scriptural truths.
Deep dives
The Importance of Tech Re-evaluation for the New Year
Considering a reevaluation of technology habits at the start of the new year is beneficial for fostering intentionality in our digital lives. The new year can bring a sense of promise and potential, serving as an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their past struggles and lessons learned. It is a time to think about how habitual technology use may have negatively impacted relationships and overall well-being, prompting necessary adjustments. Such reflection can invigorate one’s spiritual journey and present a fresh perspective on how to engage with technology in healthier ways.
Understanding the Shaping Effects of Technology
Form matters significantly in technology usage, influencing not only what content is accessed but also how it impacts individuals. Engaging with technology affects one’s thoughts and behaviors beyond mere content consumption, suggesting that the medium itself plays a pivotal role in shaping our experiences. The notion that mediums, such as social media and television, can intrinsically affect our hearts leads to a deeper understanding of one's relationship with technology. Recognizing these shaping effects allows individuals to discern their usage patterns and align them more closely with scriptural truth.
Building Healthy Tech Habits
Creating healthy technology habits involves interpreting one's relationship with technology through the lens of habit formation rather than simply verbal affirmations of change. True transformation occurs through consistent practice and a deliberate commitment to developing new habits, rather than relying solely on feelings or intense moments of insight. By intentionally sowing positive habits into everyday life, individuals can align their actions with their identities in Christ, fostering spiritual growth. Furthermore, the challenge of implementing these changes is made easier by understanding that the process may take time and requires perseverance.
Engaging with the Physical Community
Gathering with real people in physical spaces is essential for countering the isolating effects of technology and fostering deeper connections. Participating in communal activities, such as worship, enhances one's relational dynamics, reminding individuals of their interdependence. Authentic interactions often highlight the limitations of social media and emphasize the value of face-to-face relationships. This communal approach not only nurtures spiritual growth but also combats feelings of loneliness often exacerbated by excessive technology use.
In this episode, Samuel James discusses the impact of technology on our lives and offers practical advice for cultivating healthier tech habits in the new year.