My Philosophy

If you've found yourself on this page, you probably want to change your relationship with digital technology.

Technology is not, in itself, bad. In fact, there are countless ways in which modern life is easier, richer and more convenient because of digital technology. The purpose of this project is not to reject technology, nor to return to some idealised past.

The question is not whether we should use technology. It is how we can develop a healthy and balanced relationship with it.

Technology Is Not the Problem

The difficulties many of us face with technology are not accidents.

Most digital platforms operate within the logic of attention capitalism: a business model that profits from capturing and holding our attention. The longer we remain engaged, the more revenue these companies generate. This creates powerful incentives to design products that keep us scrolling, clicking, checking and returning.

As a result, the same technologies that bring genuine benefits into our lives are often designed in ways that encourage distraction and habitual use. They mix harms up with their benefits.

The problem is not technology itself. The problem is the economic incentives which shape the digital world.

We Are Not the Problem

Too often, we blame ourselves.

We tell ourselves that we spend too much time on our phones because we lack discipline, self-control or willpower. I don't believe this is the right way to understand the problem, and I don't think it's fair on ourselves.

When I first got a smartphone, I knew why I got it. I wanted my life to be more convenient. I wanted easier access to information. I wanted to stay connected to the people I care about.

I didn't buy a smartphone because I wanted to spend hours scrolling through content I hadn't intended to look at. None of us did.

But when we’re up against tech behemoths with enormous resources, vast amounts of data and some of the brightest minds in the business, what chance do we stand?

Given that reality, it is hardly surprising that many of us struggle.

It’s easy to blame ourselves, but our habits did not emerge in a vacuum. They have been shaped by powerful systems designed to influence our behaviour.

But that doesn't mean we are powerless.

A Different Relationship Is Possible

The challenge is not simply to spend less time on our devices. It is to use technology intentionally, in a way that supports rather than detracts from our wellbeing.

There are plenty of quick fixes available: app blockers, screen time limits, notification settings and productivity hacks. Sometimes these help, but often old habits return.

The problem is that these approaches tend to work only at the surface level. They underestimate both the scale of the challenge and the depth of the habits we have developed.

To create lasting change, we need to work from both directions.

We need to weaken the pull of technologies that encourage distraction. At the same time, we need to strengthen habits of presence, awareness and intentional choice.

This is where mindfulness comes in. At its heart, mindfulness is a training of attention. It helps us notice where our attention is going, recognise habitual patterns and develop the capacity to choose differently.

Ultimately, the goal is not abstinence. The goal is to develop a clear understanding of the role we want technology to play in our lives, so that we can enjoy its benefits without allowing it to dominate our attention.

You can learn more about how this works in practice on the My Approach page.