How do I know if a new technology will help me or just exploit my time and attention?

The question itself is the practice. Most of us adopt tools without asking—they're convenient, everyone uses them, they solve one problem. We notice exploitation only after we're dependent. Laozi spoke of wu wei: effortless action, moving with the grain rather than against it. With technology, ask this first: Does this tool move with my actual needs, or does it require me to reshape my needs to fit its logic? A calendar app might move with your life. A social platform often demands you become someone who performs for algorithms. Before adopting: Try the tool for one week with intention. What does it ask of you? Not just time—does it ask for your attention in fragmented pieces? Does it create artificial urgency or comparison? Does it benefit you more than it benefits its makers? After adoption: Check in monthly. Is it still serving you, or are you now serving it? Notice when you reach for it reflexively versus when you chose to. The hardest part isn't the answer; it's staying honest about it. We all rationalize. The practice is noticing without judgment, then making small course corrections. Not perfect choices—sustainable ones.