Apparently, what was meant for our good now seems to be working against us. One such case in point is the advancement of electronics. The idea was that with the arrival of computers, tablets, smartphones and cloud storage, life was supposed to be easier and more convenient.

We can now move and store information like never before, and we don’t need one sheet of paper to do it. We can be reached anywhere at any time and information sent to us instantly. Incidents taking place a world away can be seen as they unfold by people worldwide. You can meet “face to face” with people from around the globe in virtual reality.

And yet with all the conveniences of the modern world, we are busier and more tired than any previous generation. We are sleeping less and relaxing less; we spend less time with family, give less time to self-care and eat more unhealthily than ever. Spontaneity seems a thing of the past; before we can do anything, we must schedule it a week in advance.

The tools of speed and efficiency have deceived us into thinking we can do more than we are capable of doing as humans. As a result we think we can take on more things and be more places than is healthy for us.

We can’t ignore the electronically-driving culture in which we live; therefore, I am not suggesting you give up your smartphones, or stop using cloud storage or your computers. If I had to give up those things, I would struggle to keep up with our current age.

What you can do, however, is to not allow the culture to define you. Rather than allowing the culture to dictate how you live your life, make it work for you rather than against you.

• Take control of the use of your electronics rather than letting them control you. One way of knowing if you are controlled by your electronics is whether you feel an irresistible urge to respond to whenever alerts you receive through it. The next time your phone rings or you are alerted to a text message, don’t answer it. Instead, pay attention to what is happening within your body while you are ignoring it. Are you feeling anxious, wondering who it could be or what information you are missing? The anxious response is a sign that you are being controlled by it.
• You don’t have to do everything you are asked to or be every place you are asked to be. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all you are doing, you are probably doing more than God wants you to be doing. Spend some time identifying the things that are important to you, and let your choices be driven by the important not the urgent. The important things remain constant in our lives, while the urgent change from day to day.
• Always strive to do your best in everything. When you are overly busy you rob others and yourself of your best. You end up being mediocre in all areas of your life. You do things knowing the end product could have been better if you only had more time or energy. But you don’t have sufficient time or energy, in part because you’ve been deceived by the “ease” of electronics, which have lulled you into over commitment.

The electronic revolution has been awesome and the age of technology continues to give us new wonders. But where we have allowed the technology to control us, it has done great damage to our family and to our personal, social, spiritual and professional lives.

What about you? Are you in control of your electronics or do your electronics control you? Be honest with your response and watch out for those excuses of rationalization you might use to justify your need to be at its beck and call.

I warned you I was meddling!

If you would like help in achieving your goals in any area of your life, call us at 208-880-0307 or email us at errol@errolcarrim.com to schedule a complimentary coaching session. To read Errol’s other posts, visit Christ-Centered Life Coaching.

Photo credit: US Mission Geneva via Remodel Blog / CC BY-ND