Though electronics have great benefits as tools, they also come with a cost. In this final portion of my series, I hope to make a case for replacing screen usage with more helpful alternatives, namely boredom, slowness, and presence.

In my last article I discussed the rise of addictive screen patterns, the dangers of screen addiction or overuse, and the common causes driving these behaviors. Today, let’s talk about how to make sure it’s truly you—not a screen—that’s in charge of your life.

Though the DSM-5 has yet to offer a specific diagnosis for screen addiction, anecdotally many of us would admit that we feel incredibly addicted to all of the little gadgets that are supposed to improve our lives. Despite the mass benefits that screen technology offers for work, education, and play, screen usage has started to feel eerily similar to the pangs of addiction.