Social Media + Phone Vision Statement

A few weeks ago I read the book The Common Rule. Let me just say you. should. read. it! It’s amazing. Justin Earley, the man who wrote it, isn’t a writer by trade but a lawyer who simply wanted to implement rhythms in his life that would make him more like the image of Christ. It was such a practical yet challenging book –one of those you know your heart needs to read once a year.

Here are some great quotes about social media and phones from The Common Rule:

“I try to open a media site only when I have need to post or respond. I don’t open it because I’m bored or have a spare moment. Those spare moments are reserved for staring at walls, which is infinitely more useful.”

“I avoid unplanned scrolling. Unplanned scrolling usually means I’m hungry for something to catch my eye–and plenty of strange, dark, and bizarre things are happy to catch the eye on social media.”

“I believe we should be wary of the flicking thumb motion. The restless thumb often correlates to the restless heart.”

“I don’t use social media in bed. Beds are most useful for rest and sex (and sometimes reading a book). Social media is many things, but it is not a place of rest… Mixing social media and bed tempts me to confuse these lines, and there is an easy way out of this unfair fight: throw your phone out of bed.”

The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley

I was thinking about writing a personal phone and social media vision statement before reading the book but it was just what I needed to motivate me to actually take the time to think, pray, and write one. It’s something I want to keep reminding myself of and coming back to in order to stay focused on what really matters and what doesn’t. I created many of my statements around the boundaries Earley writes about in his book.

My Social Media Vision Statement

• I will be a part of the online community in order to build others up, foster unity, enjoy beauty (but not a Pinterest perfect picture of life), & convey reality
• I will keep all social media notifications off
• I will resist the culture of living life through the lense of social media
• I will continually evaluate if social media is hindering me from thriving in life, family, and marriage
• I will open social media when posting or responding, not because of boredom or a free minute
• I will avoid unplanned scrolling, acknowledging that a restless thumb most likely reveals a restless heart

My Phone Vision Statement

• I will put parameters in place to resist the norm of being addicted to distraction
• I will be present with the people around me
• I will leave my phone out of sight when eating with others
• I will resist the urge to pull out my phone at moments of boredom or a lull of time, but instead look at it when I need to engage in a specific task
• I will continually designate a specific place for my phone in the house, that is away from my bed
• I will practice the discipline of scripture before phone
• I will step away from my phone for 1 hour a day, 1 day a week, and at least 1 week a year
• I will strive to create more than consume

Well, I created these statements just a few weeks ago and have already failed miserably but …

Being healthy,
aware, 
and 
creating rhythms in your life
 is 
not 
about perfection. 

I would much rather create “rules” and fail than go about living my life distracted and just letting things happen the way they do. reminder–you lose that battle every time.

PS. I am absolutely so thankful for my phone and for social media. I use it to stay in touch with others, especially since I live crazy far away from lots of loved ones and family members. So for those of you who DO use social media, Thank you! Thank you for being real, honest, and willing to share your life with others.

---

I’d love to know what you think and the rhythms you’ve set in place (or aspire to) regarding phones and social media.