As a college student, technology is my life. I communicate through technology; text, email, calling… friends, family, professors, peers, bosses, coworkers. All my assignments are online. I take notes on my laptop. And I get entertainment through technology with applications, games, Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify. Sometimes I’ll be using one technology at a time; sometimes I’ll be using three at a time for three different reasons.
Setting boundaries around technology seems almost impossible considering everything I use it for. However, I believe it’s necessary. One step I could (and have) take would be to create a technology use log. This can give insight into what I use technology for, how I use it, and why I use it? Then I can understand when I really don’t need technology and when I absolutely do. Another boundary is setting limits for oneself. For example, telling yourself you can’t look at emails after 5 pm, or Saturdays are for family and no technology. Setting limits and following through will make technology easier to walk away from, it may even feel good!
In the article titled “Plugged in and Stressed Out: Technology is killing the work-life balance”, by Chris Smith, the author notes that we are living in a time where are expected to contactable 24/7, in other words we are “digitally chained to our desks” (Smith). The author also notes the more hours a person works per week the higher likelihood of suicide and heart disease. So not only are boundaries important for our social lives but also our health.
Boundaries don’t have to mean decreasing technology time, but more about how and why technology is being used.
Technology in Parenting and Family Relationships 