Analysis: watch out for the time thieves, ignore the time confetti and other ways to make the most of your technology use this summer
For many, the sunny summer months are often characterised by less structure and more leisure time. Kids are out of school, universities are on break, coworkers are away on holidays, and we ourselves might be planning a trip or two.
This combo of less structure and more leisure can lead to an increase in technology use. However, It's important to set technology habits as we head into these summer months as tech use may reduce leisure time quality and satisfaction.
In a recently published study, participants spent a week tracking their leisure time and technology use in a reflective time journal. This time awareness exercise along with the participants' reflections offer suggestions for how we can make the most of our time by being mindful of our technology use.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, when was the last time you checked how much time you spend on your phone and other screens?
Notice your technology habits
"I would catch myself going onto Instagram while on the phone with someone. It was great to see because the next day I had the urge to and I was like, I don't want to write that down again. So [time journaling] made me accountable for something that I would have considered a bad habit." – Lisa* (pseudonyms are used to uphold participants' anonymity).
Firstly, we must become aware of our current technology habits. One way to start is to track and reflect on our time, like the participants in the study did. This supported participants to recognise technology habits they were previously unaware of, and in some cases, motivated them to make intentional changes.
Like the quote above suggests, some participants realised they had a habit of technology multitasking. While on a phone call, they caught themselves scrolling Instagram. While watching a movie, they distracted themselves on their phones. This technology multitasking diluted both their attention and their feeling of satisfaction from their time use.
Consider your own technology habits. Which feel fulfilling or valuable? Which do you maybe consider "bad habits" that you’d like to change?
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From RTÉ Brainstorm, 6 signs that you need a digital detox
Use tech to stay connected, but remember to disconnect too
"I use [technology] to discover and explore and I limit the use of it when I am engaged in the activities themselves so that it doesn’t distract me and take away my attention." – Shea
Technology was most valuable to participants when it enabled them to communicate and connect with others. This included coordinating social meetings with friends and family, staying connected with people from afar, and finding local and virtual event opportunities.
However, participants also noticed that technology diluted connection when it prevented them from being present in their experiences. Phone notifications, for example, drew them away from in-person conversations, fragmenting their attention into what time researchers call 'time confetti'.
Pay attention to when technology makes you feel connected or disconnected. Are there instances where you can disconnect from technology to enhance your connection with the present moment?
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From RTÉ Radio 1's The Business, how social media is crossing into our working lives
Mind the time thieves
"Social media can be very dangerous in absorbing or robbing time. Time thief…if you looked at how long you spend on Facebook the majority is wasting time." – Emily
Participants cited social media and television as their common time thieves, taking control of their time in ways that ultimately felt wasteful. Beyond feeling like a waste of time, growing research points to various health and wellbeing consequences of excessive technology use.
What are the time thieves in your life? How might you mind these time thieves to ensure they don’t mindlessly take up your time or impact your wellbeing?
Pay attention to what feels meaningful
"I noticed a difference in how I felt…just sitting watching TV versus making an effort to do the things I get more enjoyment out of. And so being outside and being with friends, and then doing the two together, it was more rewarding for me." – Andrea
Participants noticed how some activities, like socialising and spending time in nature, felt more rewarding than technology-focused activities. Identifying the values they associated with activities motivated participants to spend more time on the activities that felt most meaningful.
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From RTÉ Brainstorm, a brief history of time management
Pay attention to which activities you enjoy most. How can you spend more time on these meaningful activities?
Create technology boundaries
"Where does technology end and it’s just me?" – Becca
Participants implemented boundaries to protect the quality of their technology use. Some limited screentime in the mornings and evenings. Some committed to tech-free leisure time to balance tech-heavy worktime. Setting boundaries made participants feel more proactive and in control of their technology and leisure experiences.
Once we’ve noticed our time habits and time thieves and identified what supports connection and meaning, we can create boundaries to help us make the most of our technology use.
Identify the boundaries that will support you. You might choose to limit when, where, or how often you use certain technology (e.g., social media), and look to replace these habits with the more meaningful activities you’ve identified.
While there is no perfect formula for how we should use our time and technology, the insights from this study can encourage us to reflect on what works best for each of us. Through this time awareness, we can ensure our technology use enhances rather than detracts from the quality of our time.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
