Have you ever stayed up way too late on your phone, computer, or game system? You meant to go to sleep, you really did! But every time you went to put down the screen, there was just one more thing that caught your eye. One more video, post, monster to kill or loot to grab. 

Attention Economy

You see, technology operates on an economy of attention. You’re not paying for each thing you do with money, you’re paying for it with your attention. Your time. The space in your brain that it takes up even after you close that app, webpage, or game. And thanks to technology, we can pay attention to so many things in a day! So many that our brains can’t even hold it all! 

The Hidden Cost

But, just like spending money would have a cost, spending your attention has a cost to you too. Our brains are not designed to jump from one thing to the next with the speed that, say, Tiktok asks of us. Our minds get full, and being so overloaded, they get exhausted. Ironically, that exhaustion makes it harder to make an intentional choice, for instance, to turn off the phone and go to bed! And even if you do turn off your tech, everything you just saw and gave your attention to is still running around in your brain. It’s hard to turn all that off and experience true rest. 

Reclaiming Control 

So, how are you spending your attention? Are you controlling how you spend it, or are you spending it on whatever the screen tells you to? If you feel like you need to reclaim control over your time and attention, here are some steps you can take. 

• Honestly Assess

Be honest with yourself. Is your tech use a problem? Is it overloading your brain? Is it harder to fall asleep, or get your schoolwork done, or engage in other activities that are necessary or enrich your life? Most of us in the modern world could probably stand to reduce our tech use to some extent, but only you can decide how much of an issue this really is for you. 

• Intentionally Disconnect

Everyone’s brain needs a break from being “always on” and paying attention to a million things at once. Make intentional choices to step away from technology and look at the world around you. Make sure there are slow moments in your life for you to watch the rain, listen to a bird, laugh with a friend, and let your brain breathe. 

• Consider Value 

All tech is not equal. Think about what a particular use of technology adds to your life. Does it help you build connection? Does it help you learn? Does it make you into a person who is more like Jesus? If it’s valuable, keep it – in its proper place, but keep it all the same. 

• Don’t Use Tech at Night 

Ok I’m just as guilty here as anyone else. The quick dopamine hits of technology use make it feel like a good way to unwind. But our self-control and ability to make good decisions is just lower at night when we’re tired. Staying away from tech at night altogether keeps you away from temptation that could prove to be too much for your resolutions in the moment. 

• Be Real 

We all want authentic experiences and connection. Tech can easily put us in a position to present the best version of ourselves, or to see only the best version of others. But that is generally not the reality. Be real. Community can’t grow in the absence of authenticity, either online or offline. 

If you like thinking about technology, its unintended impacts, and their spiritual and ethical implications, come on over and join us in HIST310 (find out more about HIST310 here)! That’s one of many big questions we wrestle with as we walk topically through US history. Want to learn more about Northstar or ready to chat now, connect with us here!

This blog post is written by Katherine Clark. Katherine is a history teacher who has been at NSA for 7 years and was herself an NSA high school graduate. She is passionate about using technology to widen educational access. Katherine just graduated with an M.Ed in Online Instruction, and is excited to utilize her new learning here at NorthStar to better support in the unique challenges of asynchronous learning.