My approach

Most digital wellbeing interventions on deal with one side of the problem.

They help us to reduce distractions by blocking apps, setting limits and restricting access. These approaches can be useful for a while, but they usually fail to create lasting change.

Why?

Because they focus on the surface habits without digging deeper. What purpose are these habits serving? What needs are they meeting? And what do we want technology to add to our lives in the first place?

This is where my approach begins.

Understanding your relationship with technology

Before making any changes, we start by exploring two simple questions:

1. What role do you want technology to play in your life?

and

2. What role does it actually play in your life?

For most of the people I work with, there is a gap between these two things. And understanding that gap gives us a clearer idea of where we want to go.

Breaking the habit

Once we have identified your goals, we co-design a period of intentional reduction in technology use.

This is not a digital detox, nor is it about abandoning technology altogether. It’s about breaking existing habits, and creating the space in which we can bring about change.

This space gives us the opportunity to notice the habits which operate underneath our awareness, and space to reconnect with the activities, relationships and interests that matter to us most.

Training our attention

During this period, we will begin to replace our habits of distraction with habits of presence.

This is why mindfulness is such an important part of my approach.

Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our habits, notice distraction when it arises and develop a greater capacity for presence and intentional choice.

So whilst we weaken our habits of distraction, we strengthen our habits of attention.

Building new habits

The end of the process is to reintroduce those technologies which you want to continue using, in a way which supports what you value in life. Rather than using technology by default, we consciously decide what deserves a place in our lives, and what does not.

Together we will create a realistic plan to make these changes, and to sustain them over the long term.

The goal

The ultimate goal is not permanent abstinence, but to come to a healthier relationship with technology. A relationship in which technology serves your values, rather than competing with them for your attention.