Setting Up Digital Sabbaths: Technical Guide for Weekly Rest from Screens

Last edited: 2025-05-03 08:04:09

The constant scrolling on your phone and computer takes away time from things that are much more important, such as praying, reading scripture, spending time with your family, fellowshipping with other Christians, or doing productive work. In this guide, I will point you to ways to achieve a digital sabbath.

Why have a Digital Sabbath?

Apart from the reasons above, let me point you to some scripture on why you should try doing a digital Sabbath. Jesus told us in Mark 2:27 that

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is a blessing from God given to us, so why should we not practice it and allow it to bless us and draw us closer to God? Isaiah 58:13-14 also tells us:

“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Wouldn’t you agree that scrolling mindlessly on social media is a sinful pleasure? Instead, take delight in the Lord and find your pleasure in him.

Preparation Before a Digital Sabbath

Before you fully commit to a digital Sabbath, it can be important to notify friends and family that they might not be able to reach you. You might also want to set up an out-of-office response. If you are a family doing this together, it can also be very useful to set expectations. How do you want to spend the time together?

Locking Up Your Devices

Depending on how disciplined you or other family members are, you might want to use some kind of blocking app. If you own an Android phone, I recommend using the app Lock Me Out. I got a guide on how to lock up your phone, primarily aimed at blocking adult content, but it still applies in this case, which you can find by clicking here.

If you want to lock up your computer, I recommend using Cold Turkey Blocker, which has a feature called “Frozen Turkey”. Frozen Turkey fully locks your computer for a time that you define.

If you want to block your connection to the internet, I can also recommend checking out my guide on how to do parental control on your home network. If you follow the guide, you will learn how to configure AdGuard Home that filter your internet and how you can block the whole internet.

How to Spend Your Digital Sabbath

Here are some suggestions on how to spend your digital Sabbath:

• Bible reading, either alone or together, so you can discuss the scripture
• Pray
• Walk in nature
• Play board games or other non-digital activities
• Reading other books apart from the Bible
• Cook a meal together

You might also consider starting slow and maybe start with doing your digital Sabbath for half a day or just blocking certain things, such as social media. See what works for you and your family and what brings you closer to God. May God bless you with a wonderful digital Sabbath!