Hack your rhythms to get rest
A common question is: ‘how do you rest from work, with so much of our lives online?’ As someone who works in Church Communications, it’s something I’ve been exploring for several years and have learnt a thing or two about this.
The reality for many of us who work in Comms might look like: If you switch on Facebook you have work notifications, if you go to Twitter someone has tagged you in something work-related and there are also ten articles you need to read to make you better at your job; if you head over to Instagram you’ll see something in your feed that reminds you of work; if you keep your phone on someone will text you something work-related or your muscle memory will accidentally take you to your inbox, and hey presto you’ve reengaged with work, even if you’re trying to rest.
So how do those who spend time on digital platforms create rhythms of rest, that allow them to disconnect with work, without disengaging with their community?
To get a few more insights, I spoke to a number of people in Church Comms roles and asked them what they do to maintain their sanity levels. They are all quoted and credited below. In three broad themes, which might help you in your own journey of rest:
- Digital Sabbath
- Spiritual formation without digital stimulation
- Hacking your workflow
Digital Sabbath
The concept of a digital sabbath or social sabbath is rising in popularity. Digital Sabbath is one day a week where, with some variances, people switch off their devices — phones, tablets, computers — and detox from digital culture. A Social Sabbath is one day a week switched off from social media.
A digital sabbath takes some planning and some getting used to, but it seems increasingly popular during this season of increased digital dependency.
We started, as a couple, about 11 years ago by switching of our phones on holiday and then gradually moved to phone free moments, which include the phone never going upstairs overnight; our ‘no phones at the table’ rule and no phones on during our Sabbath. We’re not alone in this practice, but we do love it and welcome it every week.
I use my usual day off (Monday’s) as a bit of a digital switch off day. Don’t turn on the iMac or laptop and leave phone on silent or switched off at least for part of the day.
- Ben Jah Ryan
You might find going off-grid too much. Many of us use a ‘brick phone’ for these Sabbath moments to have a lifeline for those who may need us urgently. Those who have my second number are my boss, my parents and my wife. It’s for extreme emergencies and it’s never been used.
I keep my smartphone turned off [every day] between 9.30pm and about 9.30am or at least until after I’ve had time alone with God. [Plus] One day a week usually a Monday but Saturday at the moment I keep my smartphone turned off and use an old fashioned Nokia mobile if I need one (under normal circumstances so the girls’ schools can contact me!)
- Jane Fairhurst
Spiritual formation without digital stimulation
One common theme amongst those who were keen on developing their spiritual lives was to disconnect from digital devices in order to do so.
Instead, they would opt for physical engagement, with no digital tools. That’s not to say there aren’t some wonderful digital tools, but the distraction element is also not too far away.
I suggest a daily practice which anchors us in the real world — I find listening to Radio 4 in the mornings and a decent walk, to remind me that there is a world beyond my digital reality
- Peter Murden, Digital Church Toolkit,
Personally, I find a Bible, notepad and a comfy place to sit all I need for my intentional times of devotion. It also clears my head from digital noise. I tend to start the day in the Bible, take 15-minutes mid-morning to prayerfully journal, then another 15-minutes in the afternoon to study the Bible. These ‘Sabbath moments’ (as they are noted in my calendar) are wonderfully silent and precious in so many ways.
As a volunteer, who’s also working from home it’s even harder. I do my work hours (I’m a graphic designer, so all computer based) but then put in countless hours getting our digital Sunday services ready. There are literally times I have to set my phone at the other side of the room to stop checking feeds, another bit of research etc! I do, however keep a technology-free quiet time. Paper Bible, paper journal and silence…an oasis of calm among the noise.
- Ashley Hassin
Ashley wasn’t the only person to opt for a technology-free spiritual life.
I don’t take my phone out of the house … I go for walks every day without any technology. I don’t listen to sermons, or video streamings or talks — unless I have to for work purposes. I read my Bible and I spend at least two hours a day in intercessory prayer for things God puts in my heart … I speak to friends and family on skype or on the phone … I keep digital mostly for work — but do not do my spiritual life online …
- Redina Kolaneci
Maybe fresh air might be what you need.
Getting into the garden each day and spending some time noticing the small changes / getting some fresh air. Making sure some of the time doing faith related things is off screen…using a paper bible and physical notebook. I’ve also found that lighting a candle helps to mark time set aside for prayer.
- Shelley Dennison
Hacking your workflow
So much of distraction is caused by our workflow. A disrupted workflow leads to an unhelpful pattern in our days, which doesn’t help us achieve and so entering rest is harder.
Tessa changed her systems and processes, so work was kept in a work environment and digital was still a safe space for her to dip into in her spare time.
After struggling to separate work and personal stuff (I work full-time for a church) I persuaded my team to switch to Slack. So now I can do 10–6, Monday-Friday on my laptop… and when my working day is done, Slack is shut down and my phone/laptop is just for non-work stuff. Paper Bible all the way too!!
- Tessa Reed
I echo her comments. I have found silencing all notifications for fixed moments of focus help me not go crazy with all the various dings and bells. I then choose to opt-in to moments of being intentionally available on Slack and various messaging tools. Notifications outside of set hours allow me to switch off from work, so I can return to work fresher the next day.
What might work for you?
As you read these, you might see some themes emerging, some steps you might want to emulate, like those from Victoria or Phoebe
As much as I love digital, sometimes you do just need a break. My top tips:
1. If you need to step back for a bit, step back. If you need to uninstall apps or turn off social media, do that.
2. Take time to process and reflect, and connect with yourself rather than everybody else. Listen to yourself, and ask yourself how you’re feeling.
3. Open the window, look at the sky, listen to the birds. Smell the trees and nature. Watch the sunset.
We’re in this for the long haul, and it’s a marathon, not a sprint.- Victoria Elliott
Or you might find this helpful from Phoebe…
Firstly 1. in the week we have made Saturdays our ‘sacred day’. where my husband and I do something different for the whole day i.e garden day, walk day, movie marathon day, in bed all day, These means this day is not screen free but is work free, routine free and my favourite of all — multitasking free.
2. I am also setting up protocols on how I do everything and keeping all my work transparent in church google drive so I can teach others in church and my tasks could be done by other people within a comms team and have time off (that’s the goal right that it’s not one creative running everything but there’s a team that has you covered and functions without you?!)
SM Pro calls this ‘social sitters’ haha take in turns to manage. I would like to get to this point.
3. Final thing we’ve done is separated our house in to ZONES. And chilling zones in living room and upstairs with WORK ZONES separately in the bedroom and our study and then ‘switch’ between.- Phoebe Gubb
Or maybe you just need a good book…
I just turn off the PC and go read something fiction…
- Dave Roberts
What will your hack be?
Anyone with digital access needs to engage a coping mechanism to disengage with digital noise. Now more than ever, all church teams have entered into a reality that the rest of us are used to, so I thought it might be helpful to pass on practises we’ve all learnt. I hope this is helpful to you, maybe it might spark an idea for you, you might have read one thing you want to adapt, or a framework you want to take entirely, as you intentionally pursue rest.
If you found this helpful, you might also find my book helpful: ‘ So Everyone Can Hear: Communicating Church In A Digital Culture’ Available here
