Companies, app makers and technology providers are invested in grabbing as much of this finite resource as they can. They employ tried and tested methods to present us with images and activities that can produce those little puffs of dopamine that give us the feeling of achievement or reward. Like a facebook post? Puff. Swipe a tinder profile? Puff. Someone shares your tweet? Puff puff….

And then we have dissatisfaction – because the distractions we cram into every second of our daily lives are rooted in consuming a fake version of the lives of others. How can we possibly compete with the perfection of the Instagram cake-makers and the Pinterest mothers with their perfect children surrounded by beautiful wooden toys?

It is these platforms which have led us to become passive in our own sense of happiness or wholeness. We rely on technology to supply our sense of wonder or accomplishment. We are experiencing life vicariously through the lens of someone else’s curated social media feed.

But I’m not bashing technology here. I’m no luddite. I run an innovation lab for a well-known marketing agency; embracing new technology is literally my day job. But our phones are tools, and we need to learn when to put them away. A carpenter doesn’t walk around all day with a saw in his hand. He doesn’t place it on the table at dinner, constantly checking it for changes. When he’s finished sawing bits of wood, it goes into his tool box until the next time he needs it.

So how can we access the analogue, rejoice in real experience and be truly intentional in our choices – without opting out of twenty-first century life? Here are my top five catalysts that could help you live a more intentional, satisfying life.