 |
| Source: Google Images |
2019 is here. You are probably reading this on your smartphone/laptop that you haven't switched off in quite a while!
A new year is a time to rethink about how we use technology in our daily lives; whether it is to make life easier, improve efficiency, get fitter or just passing time! Now is probably a good time to think about your “tech” resolutions for the year.
What are “tech” resolutions, though? They are tech-related habits - Some that you need to adopt, some that you need to break! Let me tell you that most of them are easier than “no more dessert / let’s hit the gym”!
Before I proceed to the part where I talk about my tech resolutions, let me tell you that I shall be doing this as a three-part series. This blog is particularly about tech- habits. The 2nd one shall talk about security-related habits and the last one shall be about making strides in making my home a smart home.
With that out of the way, here is my list of resolutions. They are, obviously, not in any particular order. Some might feature higher or lower on your list :)
PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE:
Ok, when it comes to usage of the phone, I am as bad as anyone reading this! I use my phone while at work, while commuting, on the bed, just before sleeping and occasionally, at the dining table too. That is…. Just bad!
I am 34 and I have a toddler at home. I need to be spending more quality time with my loved ones and generally slow down on the screen time. There, I said it. My phone takes away most of my spare time and does not leave me with enough time to do other activities that may actually help me connect with people around me!
I know that this is going to be difficult. Putting the phone down is a tough ask. I am going to work hard, though. I have already taken baby steps by installing this app called QUALITYTIME. It is an Android app that gives you an in-depth review of your phone usage habits and helps you reduce it. I am hoping that it will further help me in the “Digital dieting” exercise.
LOVE THE PHONE YOU HAVE:
On average, we see one new phone getting launched every week. Each phone has that 1 feature that “I GOT TO HAVE”!
Do not fall for this! See, the phone in your hand already does pretty much everything that you want it to do & does it well too! Even if you end up buying the next “latest & greatest” phone on the block, chances are the within a month or two, there will be a better phone that will ask for your attention ( & money).
So, appreciate and love the phone that you are using and don't fall into the annual upgrade cycle. It will save you money. Oh, and how could I forget peace of mind?!
SOCIAL-MEDIA FASTING:
For most people, the title could have been - GOODBYE, FACEBOOK.
It is 2019 and Facebook still manages to hook people for at least 1 hour a day!
I deleted the app about a year back and it has been a great year since. If I absolutely feel the need to check or post something, I log on from my computer and do it.
Over time, I have decreased my social media time by a good deal. However, I feel that I can still trim it by another 30 mins a day!
Go on, try the social Media fasting for a week. Try uninstalling the app for a week and see how it affects your daily schedule. As someone who has done it, I am sure that it will make you a much happier person :)
REJIG YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE:
Apart from cutting down time spent on social media, one thing that I have started doing is to clean my profiles. I have consciously added content that is positive and is some help to people. I I have weeded out lots of old data, re-looked at app permissions and refrained from posting personal stuff online.
If you are someone who is looking to get a job, you may want to consider scrubbing your posts and remove anything that may reduce your chance of landing our dream job or may potentially harm or haunt you in the future.
I have also unfollowed and unfriended a lot of people whom I do not know. This has helped me unclog my feed.
BE PATIENT WHILE TEACHING TECH TO ELDERS:
Let's accept it. Your folks are not going to understand tech the way you do. I have been guilty of flaring up at my mom & dad every time they came up to me with some tech query. The rate of enquiry reduced over time and it pained me a lot. I have made a conscious decision to help them understand tech better.
UNDERSTAND IOT (INTERNET OF THINGS) BETTER:
I took baby steps in the world of IOT last year. I must confess that I have had some great fun and I have learnt a fair lot. The sheer amount of knowledge and possibilities in this space is so huge that I intend to cover this in a separate blog itself. I shall be covering details like what is a smart home and how to go about making your home smart in the blog. Do look out for that.
GET SMART WITH YOUR SECURITY AND UNDERSTAND T&C BETTER:
Security is a BIG word in the online world today. Understanding the terms and conditions of new and existing accounts can help you in making informed decisions w.r.t what, how and when can you share info online.
Apart from that, there is a big checklist of DO's & DON'Ts when interacting with the digital world, which I shall be covering in the blog after this one.
 |
| Source: Google Images |
That pretty much rounds up my tech resolutions for 2019.
The toughest of the lot is going to about spending less time with my phone and more time off it.
Do let me know about your tech habits that you would want to adopt or let go. While at it, in case you find any of my tech habits annoying, do let me know and I shall make sincere efforts in changing the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment