Taming Tech: Tip #8

TIP #8: INTERMITTENT SCREEN FASTING

When I was seventeen years old, I decided to go on a media fast. I was desiring to walk closer with God and was becoming uneasy with some of my media choices. At the time, I didn’t think my choices had a negative effect in my life, but I felt that God was leading me to make some changes.

I planned a two-week media fast and put all my devices and media in a box in my closet. This was early 1990 so that consisted of music cassettes, a boombox, and my Nintendo game system. I also avoided television and the movie theater during that time.

It was really hard at first, but I noticed big changes happening in my life because of this break from entertainment. In fact, after the intended two weeks, I gladly chose to continue for a longer period of time. I benefited mentally, spiritually, and emotionally from this break.

A decade later, I was serving as a youth pastor, and it was this positive experience in my own life which influenced me to encourage teens to consider the benefits of a media fast.

This eventually became the catalyst for starting this ministry Media Talk 101. My message for teens to take some time to unplug was more than a decade before it became mainstream to read or hear about the importance of a digital detox.

My own story is not unique for those who have gone on a media fast. If you have a few minutes, check out this short video about a skateboarder who decided to unplug.