Here’s me looking at, for the very first time, a Microsoft app on my laptop called Windows Sticky Notes. This is just fabulous! I love all these different ways to collate and co-ordinate my stuff on this PC. It really is terrific – all these versatile ways to store and access my numerous files and bits & pieces. It makes for organizational finesse and optimization of task completion. To have smooth and unhindered access to everything I need – all pretty much in one hub, is truly the way to go, especially, when I just want to be able to utilize a bigger screen and a wider workspace than is the norm on a phone. Although, I will admit, phones are, in many ways, my primary “study-buddies” as they are just so convenient for “on-the-go”. What’s more is that they are also so very compact because of their hand-held nature, that it makes them excellent note-takers for just about any situation, which is why I don’t take too well to all this, what I would call “hoo-haa” about the so-called danger of excessive screen-time. Rather, I would caution against workaholism as a general rule, especially too, if and when the nature of the work concerned is much more secular than spiritual or religious, i.e. the focus is primarily on fulfilling the will of a company or business outside of and estranged from using your involvement in this company or business for the purpose of building up the kingdom of God.

And while we must build our use of and motivation for developing technology, around, within, and upon ethical frameworks, we need not become so paranoid about “screen-time” since, if the screen-time is purposefully used or harnessed in a morally or ethically efficacious way, then it is perfectly legitimate. The problems occur though when people deliberately use this just to be either addicted to internet-accesible vice or to be “anti-social” and “anti-relational”. That’s why it is super-important to be mindful and conscientious of the particular context of the screen-time in question. Is the context beneficial to the person engaging in the screen-time? Is it detrimental to their wellbeing or the wellbeing of those around them, i.e. in their immediate company?

See, everything needs to be looked at within its own specific context for there is not a one-size-fits-all analysis of “screen-time” per se. For example, am I using the screen-time to simply get my necessary study or work done with the added dimension of occasionally fitting in some leisure or serious de-stressing via playing online games? Or am I instead using the screen-time to become absorbed in an artificial world of nefarious fantasies and destructive online interactivity at the expense of spending quality-time with God, family and friends? And, further, who says you cannot use screen-time to spend quality-time with the Lord anyhow? Of course you can! Like, for instance, you can productively use or integrate a mobile phone into your prayer life by having it with you as an aide to  prayer exercises – there are many great prayer apps to download and go to when you need some inspiration for prayer time. I use these all the time – not exclusively though, as other times, I will use the aide of physical books rather than electronic resources like Kindle e-books or prayer apps. The other creatively healthy way to use our gadgets is to use them for reflective note-taking and journal-keeping although there are many beautiful & colourfully creative ways to do hand-written journal entries in physical diaries or notebooks. The latter can be an excellent complementary method to use alongside electronic means provided you have your own personal-organization terrain in harmonious order and under control.

Keywords:

Screen-time, Workaholism, Anti-Social, Ethical, Gadgets, e-Books, Prayer Apps, Journal-Keeping, the Kingdom of God, Reflective, Technology