“How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!”
Psalm 1:1

The Practice: Limiting our media intake to 5 hours a week

Our fifth practice is limiting our media intake. The slow drip of story, news, entertainment and media through our devices is the number one way we move from walking, to standing to sitting with those who live in a way opposed to the life and love of Jesus. Engaging in this practice does three things: 

  • Forces us to consciously choose our media. Many of us fill the time with social media or entertainment rather than consciously choosing what we will take in. Limiting to five hours forces you to make hard decisions - do I really want to watch Marble Olympics on YouTube or would I rather spend my time finishing Chef’s Table BBQ? Do I really need to scroll through my Insta feed again or would I rather connect with a specific friend? 

  • Creates space for the things we want at our core. All of us have things we long to be true of our lives - perhaps to be more fit, to read more, to make space for relationships, and have a deeper communion with our Çreator. In order to make these realities, we need to create space for them, and minimizing our digital distraction is one of the key ways to create space for presence and energy for other activities that move us towards our purposes.

  • Allows for our media intake to be fun and purposeful. Entertainment is good - it is part of God’s invitation to rest and enjoy. However, if we’re taking in media all the time, in every spare moment, it loses its joy and moves to addiction. Limiting your media can return entertainment back to its unique and joyful place in our lives. 

Please remember - start where you’re at, not where you want to be. If you are someone who currently consumes five hours of media each day (which is the national average), try dropping to two hours a day. If you are in a season of life where you’re isolated with small kids or you’re retired and have a lot of time on your hands, take every second time that you are drawn to look at your phone or your TV and look around you or look outside instead. Note God’s presence with you, pray for those you see, create space to connect to your emotions and longings. 

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