Technology is advancing rapidly, though it’s not entirely necessary. Some tradwives prefer to stay away from technology and remain more connected to the real world, while others fully embrace technology, making it an integral part of their lives.
There are many myths about tradwives; some people think we are women who live in caves or something similar. However, many traditional women even run online businesses and work from home using internet tools.
Tradwives who value a traditional lifestyle often wonder how to balance their principles with modern digital tools. Integrating technology into a traditional lifestyle does not mean abandoning core values. Instead, it involves using technological resources consciously and strategically to enrich and simplify daily life.
In this article, we want to explore the positive uses of technology and how to integrate it into a traditional life.
Define Priorities and Limits
To combine technology with a traditional lifestyle, it’s important to be conscious of how you want to use it and whether you truly need it. Technology and the internet can improve quality of life, but they can also be invasive or unnecessary. Define your priorities and identify how technology can help you:
Perhaps You Want Closer Communication with Family
Many people have family far away—perhaps your parents, your children starting college far from home, or your spouse with long work hours. Technology can help you feel closer to loved ones by enabling screen-based interactions through video calls or even group meetings.
Perhaps You Want Better Home Management
Being a tradwife doesn’t mean being perfect; sometimes things slip through the cracks—forgetting to buy something, paying a bill, or taking the car for maintenance. If using your phone is more convenient than a notebook, technology can help with these tasks.
Interesting apps for a tradwife life
If You Enjoy Learning but Live Far from Educational Centers
Some tradwives live far from cities but still want to learn and grow. Activities that keep your mind active are good for your health, mood, and sense of self-worth.
Technology can connect you to online courses and forums to learn new skills. Remember, on our website, tradwife.club, you can create groups and events to teach other women your cooking, sewing, home management skills, or anything else you can offer.
There are many ways to improve your daily life with technology. Identifying what you want to improve and how to use your devices will prevent having too many apps that waste your time. Set boundaries for technology use to avoid it interfering with your lifestyle.
For example, use video call apps to stay in touch with distant family but set schedules so they don’t interrupt essential family activities like meals or in-person gatherings.
Apps for Time Management and Conscious Technology Use:
- Focus@Will: Helps you concentrate on tasks with music designed to boost productivity.
- Forest: Encourages you to disconnect by growing virtual trees while focusing on important activities.
- StayFree: Monitors your device usage to set limits and reduce distractions.
Technology Tools for Home Management
Technology can be an ally in traditional home management, helping you plan healthy family meals or organize shopping lists. If you like keeping a meal routine for your family, consider:
- Mealime: Creates personalized menus based on your preferences and generates shopping lists automatically.
- AnyList: Organizes collaborative shopping lists and plans meals efficiently.
Other apps can help you plan household finances, improve savings, and organize your economic affairs more efficiently:
- YNAB (You Need A Budget): Helps manage family budgets and track expenses.
If you’re a tradwife juggling many activities, having a calendar might help you remember your spinning class or church meeting:
- Google Calendar: Organizes household tasks and family activities while keeping track of time for each.
Enhance Education and Preserve Family Traditions
Digital platforms offer a wealth of educational resources and tools to preserve family traditions. From learning crafts to perfecting recipes passed down through generations, technology can be a gateway to cultural preservation.
For instance, you can create a digital family album to document important events, family recipes, and traditions. Tools like Google Photos or Canva can help you organize and share these memories with loved ones.
Apps for Education and Learning:
- Skillshare: Offers online classes on crafts, cooking, sewing, and more. Perfect for learning traditional skills.
- Pinterest: Inspires creative projects, family recipes, or crafts related to traditions.
Apps for Organizing Family Memories:
- Google Photos: Creates digital family albums accessible from anywhere.
- Canva: Designs collages, family recipe books, or photo albums creatively.
Connect with Like-Minded Communities
The internet makes it easier to connect with people who share similar interests. Social networks and forums dedicated to traditional lifestyles allow you to share experiences, learn from others, and find support. On our social network, tradwife.us, you’ll find everything needed for the tradwife community. If you wish to expand your reach, consider these platforms:
- Facebook Groups: Search for communities related to traditional lifestyles and connect with like-minded individuals.
- Reddit: Join subreddits like r/TraditionalLiving or r/Homesteading for discussions on traditions, home life, or crafts.
- Meetup: Find local or virtual events related to traditional lifestyle topics.
You can read more in our article, How to Connect with Other Tradwives and Build Community, for more information about meeting others with similar values.
Consume Digital Content with Purpose
Technology offers access to quality content that can inspire and teach you new ways to enhance your traditional lifestyle. However, it’s important to consume content selectively, focusing on material that adds value. Follow blogs, YouTube channels, or podcasts centered on traditional values to learn new ways to apply these principles daily.
Apps for Accessing Educational and Quality Content:
- Audible: Listen to audiobooks on traditional themes, such as family histories or vintage recipes.
- YouTube: Follow channels focused on traditional cooking, crafts, or simple living, like “Townsend’s” (history and traditional cooking).
- Pocket: Save interesting articles to read later on topics that complement your lifestyle.
Protect Family Time and Disconnect
One of the greatest challenges of integrating technology is ensuring it doesn’t replace face-to-face interactions or affect the quality of family time. Establish “screen-free” moments to preserve personal connections. For example, implement rules like keeping phones off the table during family meals or dedicating one day a week to completely disconnected activities like nature walks or traditional games.
Apps that encourage limited screen time include:
- AllTrails: Find outdoor routes for family walks or hikes—great for screen-free activities.
Final Reflection
Integrating technology into a traditional lifestyle doesn’t mean abandoning the values and principles you cherish. Instead, use them as a foundation for conscious and balanced use of digital tools. When employed strategically, technology can complement your goals, simplify tasks, and connect you with what truly matters: family, traditions, and authenticity.
That said, don’t feel pressured to use technology if you don’t want to. It’s entirely possible to lead an organized, healthy, and fulfilling life without mobile devices, tablets, or other gadgets.
The key is to remember that technology is a tool, not an end in itself. Use it to serve your values and never let it displace them. This way, you’ll achieve a balance where traditional and modern elements harmoniously complement each other.