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Before COVID-19, digital tech was already a big part of our world. The pandemic has accelerated this process, wreaking digital havoc on both physical and mental well-being. Digital tech is not inherently good or bad, but as a tool created by man, it can be perverted by our sinful nature and used for the wrong reasons. It's not too late to build healthy tech habits so that we use these tools and they do not use us. Take stock. Perform an inventory of the digital tech in your life. Write this stuff down. What do you use? How much time do you spend on each activity (social media, texting, etc.)? Do a deeper dive. Why do I use digital technology? In other words, what am I seeking? Does tech satisfy this need in a healthy way? Often, we make the mistake of turning to tech to cope with stress or fill the God-shaped vacuums in our hearts. Check yourself. Do I have a problem with tech? (Hint: Yes, we all do to one degree or another.) How can you tell if you have a problem? Ask yourself how hard it would be to disconnect. If you think you can't live without it, not even for a moment, that's concerning. Do I worship tech and its content? Also, monitor how tech makes you feel before, during, and after use. Tech can stir up emotions—anger, fear, and desire. Do not beat yourself up about it. Digital tech is addictive; it's baked into its design. Every time you go online, dopamine is released from the pleasure center of your brain, causing repetitive use of tech. Then when you try to pull away, it pulls you back in with notifications and fear of missing out. Do not panic. You can do this. Tech has never caused anybody to spontaneously combust. If the dangers were immediate, we would know by now. However, the physical and mental effects of long- term exposure to tech are insidious. We must not allow unhealthy tech habits to erode our lives from their purposes as intended by the Creator. BY BRIAN SMITH, MD Building Healthy Tech Habits IN TEN SIMPLE STEPS 1 3 4 5 2 6 Lutheran Life

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