Calmer Screen Time

We are more attached to screens than ever before. In fact, we are now moving our small screens onto bigger screens. We are no longer relying on traditional television antennas or watching programmes in the way we once did.

Why?

Because there are so many options available. There is so much information, entertainment, education, and communication at our fingertips.

There are billions of people in the world, and many of them want their voices heard. They want to share their talents, their thoughts, their experiences, and their knowledge. They want to connect with like-minded people, exchange ideas, and grow together.

That is the positive side of the internet.

The downside is that not everyone uses these resources responsibly.

Some people spread inaccurate information.

Some promote negative behaviours.

Some create unrealistic expectations, lower self-esteem, and unhealthy habits.

We all know the examples. We see them every day. They affect adults, but they affect children even more.

One way to choose healthier screen time is to choose content that teaches you something.

We are all trying to find a little bit of peace in the online world. So why spend our time consuming content that leaves us feeling emotionally drained, angry, anxious, or discouraged?

Choose people who have experience, maturity, dignity, professional knowledge, or simply something valuable to teach. Choose content that helps you grow into a better version of yourself.

As human beings, we are constantly learning and evolving. From a spiritual perspective, I believe we are here to learn, grow, and develop. The same way we climb the ladder of growth in our physical lives, we continue growing spiritually.

That is why the information we consume matters.

For me, calmer screen time means choosing content that leaves me feeling informed, inspired, educated, or thoughtful rather than emotionally exhausted.

One example is the news.

For many years, while studying for my Master of Laws, I watched the news regularly because I needed to keep up with legal developments, public policy, and current affairs. Once I completed my final exam, I stopped watching the news completely.

Recently, I started watching it again, but differently.

I only watch it once a week, usually between midday and 3pm. Sometimes I watch for thirty minutes. Sometimes I watch for ten minutes and switch it off.

Why?

Because most of what I am watching does not require my direct action. Much of what is happening is beyond my immediate control. It is important to be informed, but it is equally important to protect our emotional wellbeing.

There is a lot of difficult information in the world. There are real problems, real suffering, and real situations that deserve our attention. Naturally, these things make us feel sad, angry, frustrated, or worried.

When you consume that information, try not to react immediately. Instead, pause and think.

Ask yourself:

• How can I help?

• How can I support others?

• How can I respond in a positive way?

If the information is becoming emotionally overwhelming, switch it off for a while.

We are human beings. We have feelings. We care about people. We feel sadness when others suffer. There is nothing wrong with that.

The important question is whether we continue feeding ourselves information that keeps us emotionally overwhelmed, or whether we choose content that helps us learn, grow, and become stronger.

There are so many positive resources available online.

There are mental health professionals sharing knowledge. There are writers, researchers, philosophers, teachers, neuroscientists, podcasts, studies, lectures, and educational platforms. Many of these resources are completely free.

Use them.

“Use your screen time to improve your life.”

If your mental health, emotional wellbeing, or overall health is struggling, start there. Sometimes people are afraid to ask for help. Sometimes they feel ashamed, worried, or unable to afford support.

If that is you, use the resources available to you.

At TFC, my team and I are here to help where we can. If you are in the UK and need guidance but do not know where to start, send us an email. I can listen, point you towards useful services, and help you identify your next steps.

If you are outside the UK, I may not be able to direct you to local services, but I can still listen.

Most importantly, remember that you are not alone.

I also encourage you to try a simple exercise.

For seven days, every morning, before breakfast, write down five worries.

Do not analyse them. Simply write them.

At the end of the seven days, go back and answer them.

Look at each worry and ask yourself:

• Could I actually do something about this?

• Was it within my control?

• Did I need to act immediately?

• Or did I simply need to wait and allow the situation to unfold?

Pay attention to what happened emotionally during those seven days.

• Did you manage to redirect your worries?

• If you did, what helped you?

• If you did not, what was preventing you?

Sometimes clarity comes not from solving every problem immediately, but from understanding which problems belong to us and which do not.

Many people call this process prayer.

For me, prayer is simple.

It is saying:

“Please help me see clearly. Help me make good decisions. Help me understand my next step. Guide me through what I cannot yet see.”

That is all.

Whatever your beliefs may be, taking a moment to pause, reflect, and ask for guidance can be powerful.

For those who share my spiritual beliefs, I also believe that we are never as alone as we think we are. Your spirit team is available to you, supporting you, guiding you, and encouraging you to keep moving forward.

This is one of the reasons I encourage the exercise of writing your worries down. When you take the time to stop, reflect, and write honestly, you create space not only for your own thoughts but also for guidance, clarity, and understanding to emerge.

Whether you call it prayer, reflection, meditation, intuition, or communication with your spirit team does not matter. What matters is creating a moment of connection where you can pause and ask for help, support, and direction. 

I hope this helps.

“And please remember: screen time does not need to drain you emotionally. It can also become one of the tools that helps you heal, learn, and grow.”

I wish you love, peace, happiness, and clarity.

- Marcia