Life is a fast-paced ride. As technology advances, people are expected to do much more than before, and faster, too. Once local businesses were normally closed on Sundays-now even the little stores tend to expand hours and days of operation in hopes of surviving. Often the latest tech gadgets do remarkable things to help improve daily life. Yet if an increase in
off-the-grid travel destinations is any sign, people are tired of constantly being accessible. And it’s an insidious chain-reaction because even those who are sick of being pressured become so stressed-out that they turn on others and give exactly the same.
What’s happening?
With each push to improve human quality of life there seems to be a series of subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) negative repercussions. This doesn’t mean things like
smartphones aren’t remarkable or that social media doesn’t have a real place of value. Still, as life gets easier, there’s some unwritten code saying everyone should be able to do more, to be more.
People want it yesterday.
As a result of this great barrage of technological conveniences, the do more/be more trend escalates to the point of not only self-pressure but with it a sense of urgency for others to follow suit. Ever caught yourself getting frustrated because a business email wasn’t answered the same day? It doesn’t matter that it was sent at 10pm on a Sunday, you want it and you want it now. And just as you yourself are frustrated, you’ll doubtlessly annoy others if you ever dare to take a little time for yourself.
Unless you are a surgeon on call or have some other job that means life or death, you have every right to set boundaries and mark out some time for yourself. Yet if you choose to do that very healthy thing then it would be more than appropriate to allow others that same luxury.
No solid infrastructure.
Another negative aspect to the great tech boom is that most businesses see the need to have a Web presence, but few have the resources (financial and manpower) to actually do it right. So if there’s a site at all it’s often poorly designed, riddled with typos, and filled with shoddy photos. Worse than all that is the total lack of infrastructure beneath it all. Visitors need to see productivity of some kind and all emails need to be responded to in a timely manner. So many businesses that clamour to appear tech savvy end up forgetting the very basics of solid customer service. Do it well or don’t do it at all.
We don’t think for ourselves.
Another side-effect of great technology is the frightening dependence on it. Have you noticed your memory going pfft? Contacts are stored in mobiles-calculators are there, too, and if you bet a friend over
The Monkees’ first hit then the answer is right there in your hand. Again, technology is amazing-but if we don’t dust off the brain cells every now and then they’ll forget how to do their thing.
What would happen in an emergency if your phone died or had no signal? Would you have the numbers you need memorised? Or if you get lost when your
GPS goes AWOL, do you think you’d know which way is which?
What to do?
First off, let yourself be inaccessible sometimes. Turn off the phone, take a solitary walk, get a sitter for the kids and just let yourself be alone for a bit. Or if it’s at the gym, doing yoga, or riding the Tube and checking out for a bit,, whatever you choose that can let you occasionally be free of outside pressures.
Nature is also a great place to reset, and even if you don’t have a lot of time, find a way to remember what it’s like to be unplugged. You’ll not only return appreciating humans a bit more-you’ll also remember the good parts about being one.