The Impact of Tech Advancements
I have seen technology advance dramatically over the past 20 years. In the early 2000s, cell phones and laptops were not commonplace in households, but now almost everyone you see owns one or both. When you go outside in the city today, you will most likely see someone staring down at their phone as he or she walks, possibly with wireless headphones in his or her ears. It is truly mesmerizing to see how much life has changed, and how reliant we have become on gadgets and devices.
The conveniences and luxuries that technology provides us cannot be overstated. Especially during this pandemic, it would be very difficult for companies to conduct their business and for schools to teach their students without the use of technologies like video conferencing. The ability and variety of methods to communicate with others has improved so much in just the past two decades. Several people can work from home rather than having to report to their workplace. The advent of social media has helped people create connections that they probably never would have been able to in the past.
As great of a convenience that all this tech can be for us, we have to be careful to not let it take control of us. Even I find myself guilty of becoming too preoccupied with surfing the internet, reading articles and watching videos. I tend to forget what is going on around me. Even though it is good to escape from reality from time to time, we should try to limit the amount of time we spend using these devices. We need to set time aside from it to enjoy the world around us. Getting away from technology can be great not just for our physical health but our mental health as well.
There are several alternatives to using technology when you are feeling drained from staring at a screen. You can take a walk, go to the park, or relax by meditating. You can read a book, whether it is to find information that you need or to just relax and entertain yourself with a story. You can go swimming or play sports outside. You can find a new hobby or learn something new, like cooking or sewing. If you want to converse with people outside social media, try talking to your neighbor or making a new friend in the outside world.
Here’s an article about the evolution of online social media in the last decade:
---BitterSweet Coaching Guest Writer
