Friday, March 28, 2025
Many of us can relate to being too attached to our digital devices. With everything from banking and fitness to email and games accessible on our phones, tablets, and laptops, these devices can become a distraction, or even an addiction. This has even more serious implications when it comes to social media. People spend more than two hours daily on social media, including platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, according to recent research. One-third of teens think they spend too much time on these platforms.
These survey results raise the questions: Are we spending more time with our devices than with God? And are we investing more time on social media than on nurturing in-person relationships within our communities?
Let this Lent be a time where we take these questions to prayer.
Fasting
Fasting is a practice of self-discipline with a penitential focus. Most commonly, it refers to reducing food intake by limiting how many or the size of meals we eat. Among the many reasons for fasting, especially during the season of Lent, one of the most compelling is how it can reveal disordered dependencies, helping us to grow in the virtue of temperance, and preparing us for reception of the sacraments.
When we fast from food or luxuries, we create space for God. Our fast reminds us of our need for God and brings us back into relationship with him. Fasting also invites us to renew our relationships with one another in our communities.
Unplugging
“Unplugging” - the act of intentionally eliminating screen time or time spent consuming digital media - is a worthwhile and challenging type of fasting. In the spirit of the thousands participating in the Global Day of Unplugging, consider what unplugging means for you and your relationship with God. Ask yourself: How can I unplug and intentionally use the time offline to spend more time with the Lord? Can I reinvest and dedicate the time unplugged to prayer or charity?
How to participate
- Pray to discern your level of participation. Ask God to help you decide how much you can and should dedicate time offline and reinvest with him in mind.
- With that “unplugging level” in mind, prepare for the Day of Unplugging by planning for how you'll spend your time offline in prayer or works of charity.
- Commit to spending March 28 fully - or partially - unplugged!
- After the Day of Unplugging, be sure to converse with Jesus on the experience. (see prayer prompts in the FAQs section)
Ideas for what to do when you unplug
How will you spend your time offline? Here are some tips and ideas.
Prayer
- Attend daily Mass in the morning before work or school.
- Make a Holy Hour or half hour. A holy “five minutes” is better than zero.
- Pray a Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet and offer it for a loved one or the souls in Purgatory.
- Read Scripture. Consider praying Lectio Divina with the readings for the Third Sunday in Lent.
- Go to Stations of the Cross at your local parish.
- Pick up the Catechism and dive into an aspect of the faith you want to better understand.
- Read a hard copy of a spiritual classic. Here are some recommendations:
- “Confessions” by St. Augustine
- “The Story of a Soul” by St. Therese of Lisieux
- “He Leadeth Me” by Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J.
- Go for a walk in nature and offer your movement outdoors for those who are sick or unable to do so themselves.
- Offer your heart to Jesus by journaling about the experience of spending time offline.
Works of Charity
- Invite a friend or two to your local parish fish fry. Discuss how this Lent has been going so far.
- Peruse a printed copy of your parish bulletin to discover ways to get involved or give back.
- Spend time in phone-free fellowship with your parish, school, or ministry community.
- Volunteer with Catholic Charities ministries such as the St. Lucy Food Project.
- Write a handwritten letter to someone, just to remind them how much they are loved.
- Create a piece of art - maybe paint, draw, or crochet - that you intend to give away.
- Find items in your closet or pantry that you can donate to a local shelter.
- Offer to go grocery shopping for an ill, elderly, or pregnant neighbor.
Unplugging FAQs
March 28, 2025
Unplugging” means disconnecting from devices with screens, including phones, laptops/computers, tablets, and TVs intentionally. It also includes fasting from-limiting use of-all forms of digital media consumption including social media, streaming platforms, texting/messaging, and even listening to podcasts. In the same way one would fast from food, limiting intake of certain foods at certain times, try using devices only for what is absolutely essential.
That’s OK! You are not alone. Your responsibilities with family, work, or school come first. If you are unable to fully unplug for the day, discern when you might be able to intentionally fast during time you would otherwise spend on your phone or in front of another screen.
24 hours is a reasonable time to challenge ourselves to refocus our hearts and minds on God. If you feel called to continue the practice of unplugging, be at liberty to do so!
Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. Catholics ages 14+ must still abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.
Consider posting on your social media to let your friends, relatives, and peers know that you plan to be offline on March 28. You can also add a line to your email signature or set up an auto reply letting people know. Here’s some language you may consider adopting: “Thank you for your email! I am trying my best to unplug from digital communication today in order to recharge my relationship with God. If this is an emergency, please call me at [X]. Otherwise, look to hear from me soon. God bless you!”
In addition to posting to your social media before March 28, let them know in person.
Was I able to appreciate the time away from technology as a gift, or did it feel like a struggle? What are some ways I can change my social media habits in light of this experience?
