Social Sanity in an Insta WorldSample

It all began when I had a baby. A new mom and a church planter’s wife, I was also leading a huge and scary project at work. Something had to go. Social media was the obvious choice.

I resolved only to use Instagram on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I’m not going to lie, at first it was hard. Very hard. Every hour I had the urge to check what was happening on the internet. I feared I was missing something important. I worried that I’d drift away from my extended family, who were living far away. But by God’s grace, I pushed through the fear. And I’m glad I did.

Let's face it: social media is awesome. But it can also be a black hole that keeps us away from the things we’re meant to do with our lives. The best strategy I’ve found is to take a minute to plan:

• When – How much time do I need for this? Which days/times will I log on?
• Where – Should I use my phone or my laptop? At home? In the carpool line?
• How – How can I stick to my limits?

Our phones are designed to keep us there, so don’t beat yourself up as you begin to build these muscles of self-discipline. Instead, ask the Lord for his grace and strength. And remember, eliminating what makes us stumble—although necessary—is not enough. We need to fill ourselves up with the things that make us flourish—reading God’s word, walking in creation, having coffee with friends, baking cookies, or reading books.

Our days, weeks, and years consist of rhythms of work and rest. Our calling is to make the most of them, glorifying God and enjoying him forever every step of the way.

There are many things in our lives that interfere with these holy rhythms, and we cannot change them. We get sick. We lose our job. The basement floods. School is canceled. But there are also many things (little things, everyday things, things so common we might be tempted to ignore) that interfere with these holy rhythms and that we can change.

You can make a choice. And the choice might be to not have to make a choice. You can resolve to—at least some of the time—stow away the pages and platforms and instead reach for whatever is true, good, and beautiful all around for you to enjoy.