Am I Devoted to My Calling or Distracted by My Device?

As we embark on the first month of the new year, one of the greatest determinants of our success and impact will not be the tools we use, the resources we have, or even the goals we set. Instead, it will be the level of dedication and discipline we apply to managing our distractions.

Technology, particularly our smartphones, is both a remarkable enabler and an insidious interrupter. Darren Whitehead, in his book The Digital Fast: 40 Days to Detox Your Mind and Reclaim What Matters Most, highlights some sobering statistics:

• 57% of Americans consider themselves "addicted" to their smartphones.

• The average person checks their phone 150 times a day.

• Americans now spend over 4 hours and 25 minutes a day on their phones—a dramatic increase from just two years ago.

• Teens get an average of 8 hours of screen time daily, while children’s screen time has surged by 52% since the pandemic.

• 68% of workers report being distracted by email, social media, and doomscrolling.

• 1 in 3 people say social media negatively affects their mental health.

These numbers demand our attention—not as a condemnation of technology, but as a challenge to our priorities. They should prompt us to pause and reflect, asking ourselves:

• Am I more devoted to my distractions or my calling?

• Does the algorithm know me better than I know myself?

• What deserves my focus—the endless scroll or the people I have been entrusted to lead and serve?

The answers to these questions matter deeply. As leaders, the time, energy, and focus we mindlessly surrender to our devices directly affect our ability to lead ourselves and others.

This isn’t an anti-technology message. Technology connects us, drives innovation, and enables incredible possibilities. But to lead ourselves and others effectively, we must become more intentional about how we interact with it.

Here are some practical steps for us to regain focus in 2025:

1. Audit Your Screen Time: Start by checking your daily and weekly screen time if available. Identify the apps and habits consuming the most hours, and ask yourself: Do these align with my goals and values?

2. Delete or Disable Distracting Apps: Consider taking a break from certain apps or features for anywhere between 24 hours and two weeks. Pay attention to how your energy and focus shift during this time.

3. Schedule "Phone-Free" Time: Dedicate specific blocks of time when your phone is off, out of sight, or in “Do Not Disturb” mode. Use this time for deep work, strategic planning, or connecting with loved ones.

4. Prioritize High-Impact Habits: Replace screen time with activities that rejuvenate you—reading, journaling, exercising, or brainstorming.

If you embraced opportunities to disconnect and engage in a digital fast, how much more time, energy, and mental clarity could you unlock to reconnect with yourself, those you lead, and your higher calling?

May 2025 be the year we reclaim our time, energy, and attention. Remember, the smartphone isn’t inherently the enemy. It’s our relationship with it—the boundaries we fail to set and the distractions we allow—that threaten our goals, dreams, and purpose.

Ultimately, the question isn’t whether technology can enhance our lives; it’s whether we will use it as a tool or allow it to use us. The choice is ours.

Let’s lead with greater focus, intention, and the discipline to prioritize what matters most.

This year, let your dedication to your calling outweigh your dedication to distractions. You—and those you lead—deserve nothing less.

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