This week’s guest blog piece is written by Katharine Giovanni:
I grew up in the 1960’s and 70’s when there were no computers or smart phones. There were no microwaves, no IPads or Kindles, no SKYPE, no Internet, and there were only about 7 good stations on television. We didn’t stay home and play video games all day because there were no video games to speak of back then. We played outside, talked to our friends on the phone, and listened to music. I remember telling this to my sons when they were younger. I’ll never forget the looks on their face! No PlayStation games? No videos? Blasphemy!
Today we’re told that technology makes our lives easier. The microwave helps us cook food faster. The Internet helps us get information faster and allows us to stay connected with friends, family and business associates. We have more television stations to give us more choices, we have smart phones, IPads, and computers so that we can stay in touch with each other and access the Internet anywhere in the world any time day or night.
From where I’m sitting, it looks like all our sophisticated modern technology has done the opposite. It’s made our lives busier and given us less time instead of more.
When I was in my twenties, you know what we did when we left the office and went home? We rested. We had time to think and reflect about the day and do something very few of us do in today’s world … we relaxed!!!
Since we had no mobile technology back then, after work we would go out to dinner, take walks, watch television, listen to music, and read books. We turned our minds off for a while and allowed it to reboot itself. Modern technology has taken this away from us. Instead of resting when we get home from work, we work on our laptops and constantly check our phones. We look at our phones 24/7 and rarely look up at the people around us. Having dinner with a friend? Look up and count how many people are on their phones.
(In fact, here’s a tip … when my family/friends go out, we all put our phones in the middle of the table. First one to flinch and reach for their phone pays the bill. Try it!)
When exactly do we rest and allow our minds to turn off for a little while?
Modern technology has made things harder. It has unleashed a monster called stress that is making our world sick and tired. It distracts us. It owns us!
Remember the Terminator movies where machines rule the earth? Guess what? Machines rule our earth. Technology rules and our stress levels have never been higher. Stress is a nasty thing that causes some even nastier diseases, and there are no antibiotics you can take for it. Stress kills and there is only one cure for it. You need to rest.
When Ron and I go on vacation, we usually take a technology break as well. For one week, we remain (for the most part) technology-free and leave our smart phones behind. Does the world end? Do we lose our company? Do clients walk away?
Nope. We come home with our minds refreshed and return the calls, answer the emails, and life rolls on. Life, as we know it, doesn’t end. Instead, we are able to focus on the job at hand because we are refreshed and relaxed.
I completely agree that technology speeds up our ability to do things. We can research faster, cook faster, and be in contact with other people faster. However, it also causes us to feel the need that we have to be in contact all the time! We feel we have to check our email at 10:00 p.m. at night and we have to check our phone every second no matter where we are. When do you rest and turn your mind off? I understand that everyone wants to move forward. I totally get that. However, in order to move forward, you have to occasionally take a few steps back so that you can get a better look at where you want to go.
So what can we do?
We can put the phone down after work and not pick it up until the morning. That means no emails, no calls, no texting … nothing. The world won’t stop! People might think you’ve been abducted but so what? You’ll get back in touch with them.
If you don’t rest and let your body and brain reboot itself, then your body will break down. In the end, technology will deprive you of the true quality of life because it will be sick and you won’t be able to do what you want to do. So here’s my challenge …
I challenge each and every one of you reading this article to lose your phone for one day and see what happens. I challenge you to turn off your computer/phone at 6:00 p.m. and ignore work related emails, texts and calls until the next morning. Try and do this for a few days and then see how you feel.
Everyone tells you that you need to eat right and get plenty of exercise. Absolutely true! However, there is a third even more important key to life … you need to rest!!! So turn your mind off for a while. Listen to some music. Read a book. Talk to your kids. Go shopping. Go to a comedy show and laugh. Stop ignoring what your body is telling you! I know that it has been urging you to slow down and take a breath. Listen to it. It knows what it’s doing.
Enough said.
Now let’s see … I’m writing an article about the evils of technology on my computer, my phone is ringing next to me and an email just arrived.
Hmmm … guess it might be time to take a break!
About the Author: Katharine Giovanni is a motivational customer service and concierge trainer/consultant and award-winning author. She can be reached through her blogs/websites at www.KatharineGiovanni.com and www.TriangleInternational.com.
Image credit: Ilker
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