Healthy Phone Habits For Teens Who Love Jesus

Can anyone tell you are a Christian by the way you use your cell phone?

The purpose of my blog is to empower and equip teens to serve and glorify God in all they do, and yes, that can—and should—include your cell phone habits. Most of you reading this have never known an era where you couldn’t carry a phone in your pocket 24/7. So you might not realize how this powerful, useful tool can also rob you of your peace, focus, and time with God.

Let’s look at healthy phone habits for teens who want to honor Jesus with every swipe, scroll, and notification. Some will be general tips you’ve probably heard before (but are worth repeating), others will take your smartphone habits above and beyond so that you are truly glorifying God with your screen time.

Ready to be a good steward of your phone? Let’s dive in.

Healthy Phone Habits For Teens: Practical Stuff

For most teens, the ultimate stumbling block is the portable nature of the smartphone. The old corded phones of yore were self-limiting because you could only use them in one place, often a public area where your mom, brother, grandmother, and anyone else in the house could hear every word you said when you bid your boyfriend good night. 

Not so the cell phone.

A cell phone can be carried in your pocket on a run, snuck into class, and hidden under your bedcovers where you silently text late into the night. It’s extraordinarily difficult to exercise self-control with a device that can literally follow you everywhere. Your parents and teachers likely have rules about your use, but this is a fabulous opportunity for you to show your ability to take responsibility for your own well-being and practice a little self-control.

These practical guidelines will help you keep your phone and your screen time from ruling your life and your future.

• Set up a charging station that’s not in your room, and use an old-fashioned alarm clock instead. (Yes, they still make those!) For many, just being in the same room as their phone is too much temptation—and too practical. 
• Implement screen-free times every day, such as during homework and meals. Again, put your phone in a different room during these times if you must.
• Set daily pleasure-use limits and stick to them. Smartphones can be a real time-suck, so it’s critical you put guards in place to keep from scrolling your life away.
• Put your phone to bed at least half an hour before bedtime. This isn’t just good advice, it’s critical for your health. Check out this article by the Sleep Foundation about how electronics affect your sleep.
• Do not use your cell phone while driving. There’s a reason many states have rules about this (and, heads up, the rules are often stricter if you’re under 18). Even talking on the phone can be a distraction. No phone call or text is worth someone’s life.

How to Apply Biblical Wisdom to Your Screen Time

You probably noticed that the above healthy phone habits for teens, while practical and wise, aren’t uniquely Christian. If all you do is follow those tips, you’ll be on your way to a more balanced relationship with your phone. But why stop there? What is your faith worth if you don’t stand out at all?

For a Christian approach to managing screen time, you have to ask the right questions.

1. How much of what I do on my phone is for escape? What am I escaping?
2. Do I feel energized or drained after using my phone?
3. Could a bystander tell I’m a Christian if they observed my phone use?
4. Is the media I consume on my screen growing my relationship with Jesus, or depleting it?
5. Am I spending ample time in DAILY prayer and devotion (Bible study and meditation)?
6. How is my worship life? Is it drab and boring? Am I only worshipping God at church on Sunday—or not at all?
7. How do the messages I hear at church affect me? Is my cell phone preventing my heart from absorbing them?
8. Are my digital habits helping me serve God with my best, or are they distracting me from the work God has called me to do?

Did any of those questions make you squirm? That’s great! That means the Holy Spirit is urging you to make some changes. For more ideas on how to better serve God with your digital habits, keep reading.

Healthy Digital Habits For Christian Teens: Above & Beyond

These practical tips will give you even more power over your cell phone and keep God in your focus.

• Be courteous. Have you ever noticed how, even in a social setting, everyone is scrolling on their phone? Generations from a century ago, when it was common courtesy to look someone in the eye when they spoke to you, would be appalled. Put your phone down when someone is talking to you, no matter who they are.
• Consider implementing a screen-free day (like Sunday) every week. Yes, you can survive twenty-four hours without your device. You might even find you like it.
• Sexual purity applies. 
• Set up an accountability system with your parents, a trusted adult mentor, or another Christian friend. You can use accountability software like Covenant Eyes or Canopy on top of this, but accountability of any type is invaluable when it comes to curbing temptation and sin.
• Prioritize in-person conversation. The people who are in front of you deserve your attention and respect. Don’t cut off a conversation with your mom because your best friend just texted you.
• Put your phone away! Unless your teacher has okayed it for a project, put your cell phone away during school hours, and don’t pull it out to scroll even in the minutes between classes. The temptation to get sucked in is too great. Likewise, if you’re on a date (whether with a friend or your significant other), put your phone away! I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this, but the number of times I’ve seen a couple glued to their phones instead of talking to each other while sitting at a restaurant says this isn’t common knowledge.
• NEVER use your cell phone in the bathroom, and consider also banning it from your bedroom. The true measure of character is what a person would do if she knew she’d never be found out, but many of us fail repeatedly in this test. Bringing your cell phone into your most private areas throws the door wide open for sinful opportunities and self-indulgence.
• Demonstrate wise cell phone use for your friends. Let them see you using self-control with your screen time, and maybe they will be inspired to do the same.

>>> Help your fellow believers: Got any other healthy digital habits for Christian teens? Leave a comment below! <<<

You aren’t limited by this list. Do what it takes to make sure your phone is your servant, not your ruler, and use it to serve God.

Signs You Are Using Your Phone Too Much

Think you’re good? The following is a list of signs that you are using your phone too much. Fit any of these and it’s time to set some limits.

• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling lonelier than usual
• Pulling away from live social events
• Drop in productivity and/or grades
• Feeling anxious when you’re not looking at your phone screen, and instant relief when you pick it up again
• Lying or sneaking around your parents’ rules about your phone
• Screen time is the only thing that makes you feel better after a bad day
• Your friends are saying you’re on your phone too much. (That’s when you know it’s really bad, because they’re probably on theirs a lot as well!)
• You get defensive when your parents suggest you put it down or reduce your use.
• You can’t go on a date or out with friends without checking it every few minutes, and then scrolling.
• Your devotional and worship life is sagging or non-existent.

As Proverbs 27:20 says, “Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.” Therefore, make it your goal to not set anything before your eyes that is worthless (Psalm 101:3). Adapting healthy phone habits will free you up to honor and serve Jesus in all you do.

Wise Digital Habits: More Resources For Christian Teens

Check out my other posts regarding technology use and social media:

Put Down Your Phone! The Magic of Digital Minimalism

8 Signs You Are Addicted To Social Media—And 3 Ways to Break Free

8 Super Simple Social Media Guidelines for Christian Teens