Taken from Richard Rohr’s Weekly Newsletter from the Center for Action and Contemplation

Author Tiffany Shlain offers a practice she calls a “Technology Sabbath” as a way of reducing our addiction to technology and our personal devices. She writes:  

How often have you looked up from your screen, eyes dazed, and realized you’ve just wasted thirty minutes or an hour or more? You look around and see everyone else with their heads down staring at their screens, too. You worry about how this is affecting you as an individual and society at large. You think you should do something about it, then your phone buzzes, you respond to the text, and you’re pulled back to the screen again. We’ve become ostriches, burying our heads in silicon sand                                                                                                                                     

Researchers have compared the sense of technological dependency—the feeling that we must be accessible and responsive at any time—to that of drugs and alcohol. It’s all because of the hormone dopamine, which is related to mood, attention, and desire. When you find something that feels good, dopamine makes you want more of it.                                      

What brings you joy ?  Think about all the (screen free) activities you enjoy doing that you just don't do enough       

Consider your own tradition or history.  What foods, practices from your childhood,  family , faith or culture would make the day more meaningful for you ?   

Consider your intentions  What qualities do you want to develop ?  What habits do you want to break ?  How do you want to feel when the day is over ? 

How to prepare for 24/6     A little think ahead will help you get more our of the day.

Plan your first Tech Shabbat Look at your calendar and plan what weekend day or (weekday)  you are going to start. Mark down several weeks in a row.  The power and beauty of this practice comes with it's regularity. In time you will look forward to it each week, Look at the list of things you want to do more of. Plan to fill your screen free day with activities from that list.  You can even print the list, post it on your fridge, and reference it throughout the day.  Or fill the day with doing nothing, if that's what you need and want. Invite anyone you want to join you for a meal, an activity, or the whole day. Tell people in your life you are planning to do this.  Don't come from a place of apology, but a place of strength and excitement.  If they express concern or curiosity, invite them to a Tech Sabbath dinner so they can experience it with you.