What follows are the steps of creating simplicity through limits, as applied to technology:

1. List what/how technology is taking over. Do you get caught in a loop of watching videos or looking at people’s photos, in a rabbit hole of reading social media or news sites, in response mode of checking messages often and replying to everything right away? If you feel a bit addicted to social media, streaming video, surfing websites, texting, email or the like, this is an area to apply a little focus. You might make a short list of items to focus on. Add to the list when you notice other areas overrunning your attention.
    
2. Visualize the simplicity that you’d like. Would you like to be more present, more connected to others, more focused on meaningful work, more active outside of technology? Visualize the simplicity you’d like. What does it look like? What benefits will it bring to your life?
    
3. Identify limits that will work for you. Choose a limit that you think will work for you in each area of technology. Limits should be realistic and attainable for you. The right limit is one that feels achievable, but that creates the amount of simplicity and focus you’d like. The next section offers examples for different types of technology that can help you get started.
    
4. Write your limit down and share it with one person. This step is critical, so don’t skip it! Writing things down helps to clarify your goals, and the act of recording them makes them real, gives them significance and creates motivation. Sharing your goal with another person creates accountability. All of these increase your sense of commitment and likelihood of success.
    
5. Give your limit a trial run. Try your new limit for a week. Really commit to it, don’t just say you’re going to do it, do it and stick to it for one week. At the end of each day, reflect on how it went that day: were you able to stick to your limit? What got in the way? How did you feel? What made it harder/easier? Do this each day for a week. This is the real-world test for the limit you created.
    
6. Adjust as needed. Do you need to change your limit in some way to make it more realistic/attainable? Is there a way you can deepen your commitment? What reminders can you set? What accountability can you create? How can you adjust your method? Are there factors you didn’t take into consideration that are impacting your ability to stick to your limit? Make adjustments if needed and try another week.

That’s the general process. To help you get started, here are some suggestions to set limits for two common types of technology.

The phone is the most pervasive type of technology for most people, because it is a gateway to a multitude of other technology. Whatever tech is your compulsion, it’s likely available through your phone, anytime you get the itch. Here are some ideas to help you limit your phone use:

• No phone use in the car, while you are eating, while in line, while talking with other people or while you are using another screen. If you’re sharing a meal/beverage with someone, agree to put the phones away unless the call could be an emergency (if it isn’t an emergency, tell the person you will call them back later), you really need to look something up or you need to put something on your calendar. If you’re in line, there’s a strong tendency to fill the waiting by looking at something on your phone so you can distract yourself or feel like you’re doing something useful. Cu the urge off and see if you can just be present. If you’re having a conversation, unless it appears it could be an emergency, it’s basic courtesy to give the person your full attention.
   
• Delete the apps that are your biggest temptations. If you can stick to it, delete all social media, news, games and other distracting apps on your phone. Having a phone without the biggest temptations will drastically simplify your tech life. If you don’t think you can do it, eliminate some or specify certain limited times that you will allow yourself to use these apps.
   
• Limit messaging to certain times, unless urgent. Many of you have given in to the importance of messaging (email, text, IM, etc.). Limit this as well, otherwise it leads to constant interruptions. Limit your review and responses to certain times, for example email in the morning and late afternoon, and 1 to 2 times a day for messaging. You can make an exception for urgent messages that need a response sooner, so you may need to leave you notifications on so you can respond if really needed. Some people might prefer you respond more quickly, but setting limits means making tough decisions like. Imagine if you implemented limits like this, it would make your life simpler, and give you greater focus.

If you work online, in addition to personal use of the Internet, then you know how easy it is for your life to become overtaken by technology. Even if you need to be online for work, it’s likely that creating some limits can simplify things.

Here are some ideas for setting limits and simplifying your online life:

• Identify your most important tasks. As you get started working, instead of just diving in, take a minute to identify one to three of the most important tasks you need to focus on that day. Choose between one and three tasks (depending on how much time each task will take). Start and stay focused on these tasks.
   
• One at a time. Focus on one task at a time and have one tab on your browser open at a time instead of having multiple tabs open in your browser. Bookmark or save URLs for other sites you need so you can access them later. Clear everything away, so you have full focus on one thing at a time.
   
• Take breaks. Set reminders to take breaks and move around. This has two-fold benefits: (1) sitting too much isn’t good for you, and (2) Limiting time spent sitting in front of a screen prevents technological overload. As you return from each break, check in with your progress and focus on your task — how are you doing with your current task? Are you staying fully focused? What do you want to focus on now?
   
• Block distractions. Are there sites you’d like to limit because they are distracting for you? When do you want to be able to use them? For example, if you find yourself getting sidetracked/distracted by news and/or social media sites, create a limit that you will check news from 10-10:30 a.m., and go to your distractions after 6 p.m. Set your limits in your calendar or consider using a site blocker if needed. This will allow you to have your information and distractions, but within limits.
   
• Limit messaging, checking things, and random browsing. Just like with the phone, setting specific times to check email or messages, do research or browse is a good way to limit those activities. In addition to setting specific time to do these activities, set time limits. If you reach your limit, save the item for later.

Give some of these strategies a try, and you will be on your way to achieving greater simplicity through the power of limits.