Can technology hurt and make things impersonal?

Have you spoken with your friends lately? Or attended an event that forced you to really listen to someone, to engage in an interactive conversation where you had to be alive and focused on the other person? I know we’re all in our own worlds these days but it’s something we should keep in mind: technology can allow us to virtually be in the same room together, but we’ve become accustomed to texting, emailing, liking, sharing and commenting.

Overview

By now you’ve read the stories and seen the pictures of people on cell phones, laptops, gaming systems, and other electronics. You’ve probably seen someone walking or driving that really wasn’t paying attention to their surroundings, but rather to their devices. It doesn’t matter if you endorse or despise this technology. The fact is it is here to stay, and is becoming more advanced by the day; so you must learn how to manage them better and add that human touch to their advances. Here are some ways you can be mindful about technology.

Ways you can be mindful about technology.

Being conscious

Let's start by trying to be conscious of our use of technology. Let's stop trying to do 10 things at once and focus on what we're doing right now. Headed to dinner with friends? Turn off your phone before you sit down.

Take control of life

Technology can hurt you if you let it take over your life. Bored? Distract yourself by taking a walk or talking to people instead of checking social media all the time. Losing focus on work because of your social media addiction? Set a timer and stop checking every five minutes.

Use technology mindfully

Technology has greatly impacted the way we communicate. Although it isn’t the same as face-to-face communication, it has its advantages. Besides being a good way to connect us with people that live far away, social media sites and apps give us an outlet to join in community activities and venture out into events of common interests.

With all the amazing things technology gives us, we tend to go overboard a little. While technology is amazing and can make our lives so much easier, there’s something to be said for creating a culture of human-to-human interaction. Sometimes it’s important to turn it off and just be in the moment, but many of us find it hard to do. So this week, make it a goal to find time to unplug from the device that usually has you glued to your chair [or bed]…and actually go talk to someone.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how Servebridge can help you add the human touch to your interactions using technology please contact us today.