Balancing Tech Usage: Tips For Working Parents To Stay Connected And Content

Catherine’s Story

Catherine Sharma, a creative lead at a well-known advertising agency in Bengaluru, was finding it difficult to balance her usage of technology. Especially after giving birth and having been granted work-from-home (WFH) for a period of a month. But she soon learned to manage screen time:

“Initially, I was over the moon when my reporting head granted me a monthlong WFH to take care of the newborn. However, I realized that carrying technology over to the home can have its downsides as well. To begin, my schedule had gone for a toss, and most of the time, my time with my daughter overlapped with office work and vice versa. I had become increasingly frustrated, even though my husband, a chef who must work odd hours, tried his best to help out. 

“It is here that a friend of mine from school, who had gone through a similar experience, helped out. She advised me to chart out a schedule that allows me to use technology for specific periods of time and then shut it off. This has improved my life, and I realized that the key is finding a balance.”

Catherine’s case is not an isolated one. Many others can relate to her situation, especially in this day and age where the set notions of work-family balance have undergone a sea change. While the rise in women’s participation in the workforce has brought about a positive change, it has led to a scenario where both parents are working and technology has become an integral part of daily life.

The poster boys and girls of technology like mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and computers may have made life (and work) easier to a great extent, but they have also affected family life. Possible work overload and the impact on mental health and family satisfaction are some of the negatives of excessive technology use.

So, what can be done?

One needs to accept that technology is here to stay. And parents must face up to this reality sooner or later. The first and foremost thing to do is to formulate ways to balance tech usage. And we at ParentCircle, as part of the #GadgetFreeHour campaign, have listed some useful ways to balance your family’s technology usage.

Ways to balance tech usage and stay connected and content

Set general guidelines for tech use

Hold a family meeting every few days or weeks or even months (ensure the gap is not too big) where the entire family, including children, share the time each of them spend on screens daily vs other activities. Each family member can suggest ways to balance gadget use. For instance, every day, an hour can be set aside when gadgets are not allowed (#GadgetFreeHour) and the family spends quality time playing board games, singing, or just talking to one another.

Be a role model

Children copy their parents’ behaviors. So, to balance excess tech usage, working parents must first become role models themselves. One good way to do this is by demonstrating a balance between technology usage and other activities where parents ensure that they are seen using technology for a certain period and then devoting the rest of the time to other activities.

You should control technology, not the other way round

Letting technology control us can only result in discontent and frustration. Setting up designated tech-free zones in the house can be the first step to balancing tech usage. And turning off notifications on the smartphone or laptop can be one wonderful way to limit the temptation to use gadgets.

Remember, the more you hear the pings of notifications, the more will be the temptation to check them. Turning off these notifications ensures there is no constant obligation to check what is going on in the virtual world.

Satyendra’s Story

Satyendra Raj Gurung, a senior consultant at an MNC in Bengaluru, has a job that does not require him to be on social media all day and yet he would scroll through Facebook or Instagram whenever he had some free time, often ignoring other activities. But nowadays, he uses social media sparingly, preferring to spend his spare time mostly on other activities. 

Here’s how Satyendra learned to control his social media use:

“I do agree that social media has become indispensable today, but the trick lies in finding hobbies, activities, and other stuff that do not involve the use of social media. Earlier, the first thing I would do during breaks, during the ride back home after office, and after reaching home was reach out for the smartphone and then spend hours on it. Over time, it started to affect not only my mental space but also my work. Today, I have cut down on social media usage, and surprisingly, I’m content and at the same time aware of what’s happening in social media in the little time that I have earmarked for it.

“One tip: Turn the notifications off so that the constant pings do not force you to check the notifications. This way, your life won’t be dictated by social media.”

Be more present

For all working parents, multitasking is not the way. It may seem a testimony to one’s ability to do multiple things at a time, but the key for working parents is to be fully present in the moment for the family and more so for the kids. Having a plan that enables one to focus on and complete work while the children are playing can ensure that work finishes on time and the rest of the hours can be fully devoted to the kids and family.

Create a master schedule

Wondering how to begin the journey of balancing technology usage? Start by drafting a master schedule. Working parents can always get help from their employers to create a schedule that helps them find a balance between work and home. By doing this, technology use is restricted to a certain period and the rest of the time is spent on doing things that working parents love.

Review, review, and adjust

To ensure a proper balance between tech use and home responsibilities, planning is key. From that late meeting that has been scheduled on Friday to the upcoming play at your child’s school, reviewing the week ahead can ensure there is no overlap and overworking.

Get creative

A key aspect of balancing tech use and staying content is to think of solutions. Brainstorm on different ways to do this and list them down so you do not forget them. If working parents want to finish work faster and devote more time to family and other things, thinking of innovative ways to balance the use of technology can help.

For most working parents, flexibility can be an issue, but certain methods such as the ones mentioned above can help free the mind to focus more fully on each area of one’s life.

Tips from Satyendra and Catherine on balancing tech usage

Tip #1: It is but human nature to scroll endlessly on social media, but one should know where to draw the line. Setting aside a fixed time to check social media in a day and then no more can help … a lot!

Tip #2: Understand that social media is a part of life, not life itself. If you think technology is taking over almost every aspect of your life, take a step back.

Tip #3: If you’re wondering what’s happening in the lives of your friends and colleagues, call them or ask to meet them—there’s no need to keep checking social media every few minutes.

Tip #4: Contentment, that sense of satisfaction with life, is important for our mental health in today’s fast-paced life. Ensure that you do not carry work over at home unless it is something you cannot avoid. Once the fixed (read Tip #1) time to check social media is over, devote the rest of the time to your hobby, family, catching up with friends, or watching a movie.

Protect Their Future: Learn How Tech Usage Affects Children Today! Click to Take Action.