How to Find Peace in a World of Technology
By Kari Oakley
Technology can be an incredibly useful and powerful tool, but it can also be a source of stress and anxiety in our everyday lives. In a world that is becoming more and more dominated by the presence of technology, whether it be TV, music, phones, etc., it may seem nearly impossible to find peace and quiet, which is why it is more important now than ever to focus on various ways to bring peace into your life in spite of technology’s influence.
Limit Screen Time
The most obvious way to find peace from technology is to limit the amount of time and energy you direct towards it. One way to accomplish this is to try to minimize your dependency on technology to get through your everyday life. Whether this means using your phone less, watching less television, or not checking your social media so frequently, any form of limiting the amount of time you waste during the day will allow you to be less stressed throughout your day. You can do this by downloading apps on your phone that limit your screen time or by allotting yourself a set amount of time per day to be dedicated to entertainment or your phone and sticking to your set goal. This process will seem difficult at first, but as you continue to limit the time you spend on your phone, it will become easier and easier to live your daily life without the constant presence of your phone and you will find your dependency on technology decreasing.
Consume Uplifting Media
Not everything involving modern technology and media, however, is inherently negative.
There is plenty of positive media (movies, television shows, music, etc.) that, when consumed in moderation, can actually improve your mind and increase your inner peace. Try watching inspirational movies, listening to calming music, or reading positive news stories online.
One aspect of technology that directly affects the personal lives of many people, causing stress and anxiety, is dating apps and websites. Our relationships with the people around us should be deep, personal, but they should also bring peace into our lives. If the stress of using dating and apps and websites is bringing you down or making you lose hope about finding peace and love in the world of technology, do things that help you return to positive feelings about love: spend more time with loved ones, read inspiring soulmate quotes, or work on developing self-love.
Avoid Comparison
Another way that technology can negatively affect our search for peace is by causing us to compare ourselves to others, which always leaves the comparer unsatisfied and disappointed. Social media is the main culprit of this comparison, and, as Theodore Roosevelt famously stated, “comparison is the thief of joy.” Though social media has many positive qualities, such as its ability to connect people to friends and families across the world, it can often cause envy and resentment toward other people who we perceive to be happier and more successful than ourselves.
To avoid these feelings of inadequacy and resentment, try limiting the amount of time you spend scrolling through social media feeds; this will leave you feeling more secure in yourself and will cause you to have more inner peace. On the other hand, when you do use social media, it is important to regularly remind yourself that people often present the best parts of themselves on their social media rather than their flaws so when we compare ourselves to other people online, we are actually comparing the worst of ourselves to the best of other people. Remembering this will help you avoid the trap of comparison on social media.
Conclusion
Overall, it is crucial to remember that technology, though useful, is not the most important thing in life, and will therefore not bring lasting peace and happiness in life. This is why it is important to use technology in a way that will minimize negative feelings like stress, anxiety, and inadequacy and maximize your feelings of peace in your daily life.