1. Transforming social media from within

Even if you’re not reading this on your phone, it’s probably within reach in your pocket or on a table nearby. It’s how we “receive” the world: news, photos, messages, entertainment... But have you ever stopped to think about what you’re sending out?

St. Josemaría Escrivá wrote about living in a way that leaves what St. Paul called the bonus odor Christi (the “good fragrance of Christ,” from 2 Cor 2:15) in everything you do. The idea is that, through your everyday actions, the people around you can catch a glimpse of something real and good. That’s just as true when you’re online.

So does your social media presence leave people better off? Does your content point toward something good and meaningful? Does it help you and your friends contemplate God walking with you through life... or is it mostly noise?

The digital world is an extension of your real life. It’s where you show others parts of your life, beautiful places and people, and share what makes you happy.

2. Finding your balance

You know how it goes. You pick up your phone to check one notification, and suddenly twenty minutes or three hours have gone by. Without realizing it, we run the risk of starting to depend on the digital world and disconnecting from the world around us: study, work, relationships with the family and friends in the same physical place as us...

Breaking out of this vicious cycle means building healthy habits that give us the wisdom and strength to put each thing in its place. A balanced life needs to rest on something more stable than immediate, passing things, even if those things are good in themselves. We need something we can rely on over time.

It might help to consider your weak points and set a few goals about your internet use. You can start with micro-habits, like checking your screen time, deciding which platforms are most valuable to you now, reviewing the accounts you follow and deleting the ones that drag you down, or trying a screen-free wind-down before bed.

You might also want to ask for help in spiritual direction. A priest or a friend with experience can help you decide the best times to be on- or offline, how to handle digital drama, and what you want your social media presence to do for other people.

3. Two connections that matter

Our Father God is always there for us... It’s us who sometimes let the line go quiet. As children of God, we’re called to be contemplatives: people who know how to find Him in the quiet of our souls, even on a busy street or the middle or a crowd.

St. Josemaría called silence the “gatekeeper” of the interior life, and he recommended finding some time for more intense recollection during the day, as we work or study. If we want our prayer to be deep and personal, we need to learn to disconnect from distractions. It can be very helpful to turn off your notifications, put your phone face-down, or even turn it off completely. Prayer is a time to look at God and let ourselves rest with Him.

The same principle applies to the people physically in front of you. When you’re with someone you care about, be with them, fully present, actively listening and paying attention, not half-there, half-scrolling.

You’ll always have lots of voices competing for your attention, but it’s up to you to decide what gets your focus and when.