Nancy Colier On Waking Up From Our Addiction To Techno...
A woman waits in line at a coffee shop, phone already in her hand before she’s even aware of reaching for it, scrolling through nothing in particular until it’s her turn to order.
At Sounds True, we know that moments like this rarely register as unusual anymore, which is exactly what concerns Nancy Colier. As a psychotherapist and meditation teacher, she has spent years helping people notice what’s actually happening in these small, automatic gestures, and what they reveal about a much larger pattern that most of us have stopped questioning entirely.
In this piece, we’ll look at who Nancy Colier is, how she defines technology addiction, and what digital mindfulness can look like once we start paying closer attention.
Key Takeaways:
- Technology Addiction Follows Familiar Patterns: Nancy Colier’s work suggests compulsive phone use often mirrors the same markers seen in other addictive behaviors.
- We Often Reach For Devices To Avoid Feelings: Checking a phone can function as a way to escape boredom, loneliness, or discomfort rather than genuine need.
- Digital Mindfulness Is A Practice, Not A Rule: Building a healthier relationship with technology means noticing patterns with curiosity rather than following rigid restrictions.
Nancy Colier’s Work As A Therapist And Meditation Teacher
Nancy Colier maintains a private practice in New York City, where she works with clients on mindfulness in everyday life alongside her training as an interfaith minister. This combination of psychological and contemplative grounding shapes how she approaches technology, treating it less as a moral failing and more as a habit that formed gradually through ordinary repetition, and one that can be examined with compassion rather than shame.
Her book, The Power of Off: The Mindful Way to Stay Sane in a Virtual World, grew directly out of these observations, offering both a framework for understanding compulsive technology use and practical steps for building a different relationship with our devices. She has also written Inviting a Monkey to Tea and Getting Out of Your Own Way, both exploring related themes of self-awareness and inner freedom. Readers interested in her broader body of work can find it in our Nancy Colier author collection, including her earlier writing on mindfulness and self-awareness.
Recognizing The Signs Of Technology Addiction
Colier describes technology addiction using many of the same markers therapists apply to other compulsive behaviors: an inability to stop despite wanting to, escalating use over time, and withdrawal-like discomfort when a device isn’t nearby. These signs often hide in plain sight because checking a phone feels so ordinary and socially acceptable that few people ever think to question it.
What makes this particular addiction tricky is how seamlessly it blends into daily life. There’s rarely a clear moment of crisis, the way there might be with other compulsive behaviors, just a steady accumulation of minutes and attention quietly redirected away from whatever else was happening, whether that’s a conversation, a task, or simply a quiet moment of rest. For a full conversation exploring these patterns, our Insights at the Edge podcast features Nancy discussing technology addiction directly with Sounds True founder Tami Simon.
Why We Reach For Our Phones Without Even Deciding To
Much of Colier’s work focuses less on willpower and more on understanding what’s actually driving the behavior beneath conscious awareness.
The Habit Loop Behind Phone Checking
Like many compulsive behaviors, reaching for a phone often becomes automatic through repetition, triggered by boredom, a lull in conversation, or simply an unoccupied moment, with barely any conscious decision involved.
The Feelings We’re Often Avoiding
Colier suggests that much of our device use functions as a way to sidestep uncomfortable emotions, including loneliness, restlessness, or anxiety, rather than genuinely needing information or connection in that moment.
What Digital Mindfulness Actually Looks Like Day To Day
Digital mindfulness, as Colier frames it, isn’t about eliminating technology altogether. It’s about restoring a sense of choice to something that has become largely automatic, noticing the urge to check a device before acting on it rather than after.
This might look like pausing for a breath before unlocking a phone, or asking what feeling is present in the moment right before reaching for it. Over time, these small pauses can restore a sense of agency that constant, unconscious use tends to erode, gradually replacing automatic reaching with something closer to genuine choice. Those interested in building this kind of present-moment awareness more broadly may find Sounds True One a helpful resource, offering access to teachings on mindfulness and attention from many different teachers.
Building A Personal Digital Detox That Actually Sticks
Colier is candid that a digital detox doesn’t need to mean total disconnection to be meaningful. Even short, consistent periods of intentional offline time, whether during meals, the first hour after waking, or a walk without a phone, can begin to loosen the automatic grip that constant connectivity creates over time.
The goal isn’t perfection or permanent abstinence. It’s building enough awareness that technology use becomes a series of conscious choices again, rather than a default state. Readers looking to explore more of Colier’s practical guidance on this process can find further resources throughout our Nancy Colier author collection.
Final Thoughts
Nancy Colier’s work suggests that waking up from technology addiction doesn’t require rejecting modern life or swearing off devices for good. It asks for enough honest attention to notice when a device has quietly taken the place of genuine connection, rest, or feeling, and enough compassion toward ourselves to gently choose differently the next time the urge arises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nancy Colier
Who is Nancy Colier?
Nancy Colier is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, and meditation teacher based in New York City, known for her work on mindfulness and technology addiction.
What is technology addiction?
Technology addiction refers to a compulsive relationship with devices marked by an inability to stop despite wanting to, escalating use, and discomfort when disconnected.
What is The Power of Off about?
The Power of Off is Nancy Colier’s book, offering a framework for understanding compulsive technology use along with practical steps for building a healthier relationship with devices.
What does digital mindfulness mean?
Digital mindfulness refers to restoring conscious choice to technology use, noticing the urge to check a device before acting on it rather than reaching for it automatically.
Why do people reach for their phones so automatically?
Much of this behavior becomes a habit loop over time, often triggered by boredom or discomfort, with little conscious decision-making involved once the pattern is established.
Do phones help us avoid difficult feelings?
Nancy Colier suggests that much of our device use functions as a way to sidestep uncomfortable emotions like loneliness or restlessness rather than meeting a genuine need.
Does a digital detox require giving up technology completely?
No. Colier suggests even short, consistent periods of intentional offline time can meaningfully loosen the automatic grip of constant connectivity.
Where can I hear Nancy Colier discuss this topic directly?
Sounds True’s Insights at the Edge podcast features a full conversation between Nancy Colier and Tami Simon exploring technology addiction and digital mindfulness in depth.
Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant, and intuitive healer. She is the author of six books, including Skill in Action and Finding Refuge. Amy Burtaine is a leadership coach and racial equity trainer. With Robin DiAngelo, she is the coauthor of The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups. For more, visit https://www.michellecjohnson.com/wisdom-of-the-hive.
