If you are a church staff member desiring to deepen your focus and productivity, there's one key area you need to tame: social media.
As church leaders, it's undeniable that social media has become an integral part of our lives, with both productive and distracting aspects. According to a recent study, the average global time spent on social media per day is about two hours and 24 minutes. However, becoming overly absorbed in this platform can pose a threat to your ability to execute deep work.
Social media often narrows down our focus to instant replies, likes, and other dopamine-triggering interactions that may cause us to lose sight of meaningful, big-picture tasks. Unhealthy consumption of internet debates, controversies, or even just casual scrolling can lead to waste of precious time — time that could have been utilized for deep work.
Regaining control over your social media usage begins with an honest self-assessment. Ask yourself: Does social media rule you, or do you rule social media? Other important considerations include how it may color your perception of important matters, its impact on your ability to build relationships, and the risk of distracting you from your mission.
Social media can also cultivate the temptation for church leaders to focus on building personal platforms versus fostering meaningful conversation within the church community. This may ultimately detract from fulfilling your calling in ministry.
Here are some action steps for leveraging social media as a tool rather than a distraction:
1. Consider using an app, like 'Moment' or 'App Detox,’ which will help establish rules and monitor for violations to keep your usage in check.
2. Implement a social media detox, perhaps a 30-day break or at least one day off per week from social media. A regularly scheduled social media-free day can help recenter your focus and emphasize deep work.
Confronting social media misuse is paramount in your journey to deepen work and fulfill your calling. It may pose challenges, such as withdrawal symptoms, but acknowledging this issue is the first step toward mastering the indispensable skill of deep work.
Listen to today's Deep Work Podcast episode to delve deeper into the correlation between social media and deep work in church leadership. It's time to rule your social media, rather than being ruled by it, for fruitful ministry and meaningful church work.