The Healthy Digital Life Cheatsheet

The Biggest Mistake Christian Leaders Make In Leveraging Digital Tools for Work That Lead To Staying Late In the Office, Falling Behind Deadlines, and Burning Bridges

Hi Liberating Leaders,

Tech tools are everywhere. It is only getting more advanced by the minute.

In this issue, we are going to dive into the biggest mistake Christian leaders make in leveraging digital tools for work.

This issue for you if you do any of the following:

• staying later than you have to in the office.

• you can’t keep up with the deadline that your boss gave you.

• you sacrifice your family time to take work calls or work on projects.

To start controlling your digital tools, and not letting your devices control you, Use the Healthy Digital Life Cheatsheet to get your work done without impacting your personal life.

Let’s dive in.

Using The Same Digital Tools For Work And Home

In 2016, my boss asked me if I wanted a second phone.

I had just been promoted to be a senior leader, and a perk was to get a new phone. I had the choice of having a second phone, or I could just having 1 phone for both work and home. Since I don’t like to carry 2 phones, I opted for 1 phone.

That was the biggest mistake I made.

All of a sudden, my work appears in my personal life.

I have access to my work everywhere. I thought this would me more freedom to be away from campus. I can work anywhere. I was looking forward to the freedom. Instead, I was trapped in my work.

The work followed me everywhere.

Christian leaders who leverage high-tech tools make the same mistakes.

Here 5 reasons why:

Reason #1: Responding To Work Communications Until Everyone Goes To Sleep

Communication has moved to your phone.

Gone are the days of handwritten letters - now everything is instant. The faster we communicate, the higher the expectations. Leaders check emails obsessively, waiting for replies. Work communication never stops.

Real work?

It happens after dark when the messages finally quiet down.

Reason #2: Taking Your Work Away From The Office

"Work from anywhere" sounds freeing.

Instead, your work follows you everywhere like a shadow. You convince yourself everything needs an immediate response. "What if they need me?" The false urgency traps you. Your phone becomes a constant distraction, stealing time from strategic thinking and innovation.

Your work follows you all day long.

Remember when leaving the office meant actually leaving work behind?

Reason #3: Wasting Time Learning The Newest Features

Every new device brings an avalanche of features promising to revolutionize your workflow.

You spend hours upon hours digging deep into tutorials and tips, convinced that mastering these tools will make you more productive. Time slip away as you chase the perfect setup. Meanwhile, your actual work sits untouched.

The pursuit of productivity becomes its own form of procrastination.

Reason #4: Having Your Devices Out Everywhere

Your devices follow you around like a puppy.

Your devices are constantly competing for your attention. Notifications light up your phone while you're trying to rest. Your tablet pings during family dinner. Your smartwatch vibrates during prayer time. Even when you try to disconnect, these digital distractions keep pulling you back into work mode. You're physically there, but your mind is still caught up with work issues. These devices are preventing you from truly being present in these precious moments.

You try to stay connected, but you are more disconnected than ever.

Reason #5: Hurrying Up Your Life To Keep Up

Technology has put your life on fast-forward.

Every notification demands immediate attention. Quick decisions replace thoughtful ones. Quality suffers as quantity takes over. The faster you work, the more mistakes you make, creating new fires to fight. Your body shows the strain - headaches, insomnia, fatigue. Your relationships suffer as "urgent" work matters steal precious moments.

These tools meant to serve you have become your master.

When you use the same devices for work and for home, you face a whole new set of challenges.

But there is a better way to solve this problem: The Healthy Digital Life Cheatsheet.

Healthy Digital Life Cheatsheet

The digital revolution is already here.

As Christian leaders, we can't escape the reality that technology has transformed how we work, communicate, and live. The question isn't whether to use digital tools, but how to use them in accordance with God’s design for human flourishing.

Digital tools are just that, tools.

To use tools wisely, we turn to God, the creator of all things.

God has blessed us with discernment and wisdom to navigate these modern challenges. Just as the early church adapted to the communication tools of their time - from letters to scrolls - we too must learn to leverage today's digital tools for Kingdom work.

Here are 7 tips of the Healthy Digital Life Cheatsheet: