Taming Tech: Tip #6

TIP #6: SELF-CONTROL

Most people understand that the biggest challenge for any food diet is self-control. It is also the key to becoming a better athlete.

It is also a key for gaining better control over your media consumption habits instead of being controlled by impulse, cultural pressure, or your lack of goals and direction.

In the Bible, self-control is sometimes translated as “temperance.” It is the opposite of excess or being out of control. When applied to food it means that you are not overeating.

So, temperance, or self-control, when it comes to media, entertainment, and technology is not overconsuming. You are disciplined to not let it get out of hand in your life. But where do you start and how much is too much?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association, they recommend two hours or less per day for teens.

Granted, there are different ways we interact with screens. Some screen time is essential for work. Some is passive entertainment and some for education. Some screen time is for creative purposes like audio or visual content creation. And some screen time is for communication with others. Not all screen time is created equal.

But wisely managing your screen time is going to take self-control.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”