Electronics have been a wonderful invention and have simplified our lives as well as kept us more up to date with what is going on with each other as well as the world around us. With that said, we all know there are drawbacks to electronics. They can be an easy way to withdrawal from the world and each other. They can fill us with so many negative images, we forget to look at the positives. They can influence us in ways we do not want to be influenced.
In our house, we use our electronics but I feel like it is always a battle of balancing screen time with other things. I also realize how dependent I am on them. Last week, our computer died. It took a few days for my husband to analyze and fix it. It was hard doing some of the things I normally do-accessing my recipes, putting out church liturgy, tracking checking account and planning for my classes I teach. Here are some guidelines and rules I try to follow in my life to help me balance the electronics.
1) We do not have cable TV. We figure why increase our temptation plus it is a cost savings for us.
2) I only check e-mails and facebook 1-2 times daily unless I am expecting something.
3) I have specific shows I like to watch and then I turn the TV off. I also do not watch reruns of these shows.
4) The only video games that are allowed in our house are active ones. This is an adjusted rule for us. It used to be no video games but this changed when the WII became available. It is good exercise for my daughter who has motor problems. Even that is limited to 1/2 hour daily on days we cannot go outside due to weather. Her disability makes her heat and cold intolerant.
5) The computer is used for school, education and research purposes. Not just something to surf when I am bored.
I usually do pretty well with electronics but always seem to have to come back to my rules. Sometimes the temptation can be too much when I am tired or stressed.
In our house, we use our electronics but I feel like it is always a battle of balancing screen time with other things. I also realize how dependent I am on them. Last week, our computer died. It took a few days for my husband to analyze and fix it. It was hard doing some of the things I normally do-accessing my recipes, putting out church liturgy, tracking checking account and planning for my classes I teach. Here are some guidelines and rules I try to follow in my life to help me balance the electronics.
1) We do not have cable TV. We figure why increase our temptation plus it is a cost savings for us.
2) I only check e-mails and facebook 1-2 times daily unless I am expecting something.
3) I have specific shows I like to watch and then I turn the TV off. I also do not watch reruns of these shows.
4) The only video games that are allowed in our house are active ones. This is an adjusted rule for us. It used to be no video games but this changed when the WII became available. It is good exercise for my daughter who has motor problems. Even that is limited to 1/2 hour daily on days we cannot go outside due to weather. Her disability makes her heat and cold intolerant.
5) The computer is used for school, education and research purposes. Not just something to surf when I am bored.
I usually do pretty well with electronics but always seem to have to come back to my rules. Sometimes the temptation can be too much when I am tired or stressed.
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