One of the banes of our present times is the way digital technology has taken over our personal and professional lives. Over the last quarter century, no industry has seen more dramatic change and has had a bigger impact on consumers and businesses than technology.
This change has been nothing short of dramatic. Personal digital technology which was once an add-on to the lives of people and the operations of companies, has today taken centre stage in most people’s lives. Almost everyone we know, is just a few clicks away. And yet, isn’t it an irony that in this day and age when the demands of being constantly connected are relentless, technology is most often blamed for curbing human contact? Not surprising really especially when we see how technology has come to rule over our lives, much to our detriment.
If you’re traveling, as I recently did, you never fail to notice how people carry their gadgets at all times. There are families with every member hooked on smartphones, silently nodding away, their eyes transfixed on the digital screens. At a time when one should be spending time with each other, people are working on their devices. So ironical that one should leave the confines of one’s workplace only to end up working, even on the go, because work is always a click or a swipe away. One is always in contact with the office—in multiple ways, on multiple devices. Even at 39,000 feet. I sometimes wonder why people bother to take a break at all?
Until some months back, I used to find myself stopping to check my phone countless number of times, thanks to the endless notifications bombarding me throughout the day and night. There was something about those notifications that compelled me to be active online, almost as if I was duty bound to answer people as soon as they had posed a question or commented even. The downside of all this was that it ate into my general productivity through the day.
My reluctance to join the many whatsapp groups was mostly due to my dislike for this constant invasion into my personal space and time. Initially, I resisted the constant pressure from various social groups persistently requesting me to join the brigade. I did, on the insistence of my school reunion group. Only to regret later. A few days into it and I felt it wasn’t my thing. The idea of constantly commenting, chatting and forwarding silly jokes did not appeal to me at all. I won’t say I’ve given up entirely on it, but I do use it with specific people as a one-on-one communication, more like messaging rather than for group interactions. At my own pace and time.
Having opted out of most groups, I’m much happier now. I also found it irritating to be constantly bombarded by social media notifications on my phone, and am much better off now that they are all switched off, which gives me that much extra time to focus on the most important tasks of the day. Allocating specific times in the day for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, helps ensure that I do stay connected but without my personal space and family time being compromised in any way. The cost of being online 24/7 and constantly participating online around the clock is definitely not for me. If that makes me a social media bore, I’ll happily accept being one! To be honest, I’ve reached a point in life when it does not really matter to me what people think of me. It’s that simple.
Now that you know a lot more about me, I’d love to know a little more about you too. How connected are you with digital technology as a person? Do you reach for your phone or laptop as soon as you wake up first thing in the morning? Is your idea of relaxation all about reading a paperback book with actual pages or would you rather check on social media so as not to miss the most important discussions of the day?
I’d love to hear what you think of all this. Please do leave your thoughts and views in the comments below.
Though like you, I used to be online – I have become conscious of my time and effort that I put in. So, yes these constant notifications are draining and on most groups, I stay on mute. I recently turning my data off when I hit the bed. It worked wonders on my sleep quality. I don’t reply to blog comments at the middle of the night at least 🙂
The benefits of switching off are many, Parul. I have seen this myself and now know that it is so much better to have those notifications muted. Sleeping well works wonders for the mind and body. I’m able to relate this to my own life so well. I used to stay up to reply to everyone earlier on, but now I take my time to reply to blog comments to ensure blog-life balance 😀
Oh I hear you about the whatsapp groups. I am the “one” who is most bitched abt in the school group as I have refused to be on it 😉
I recently put up apost on my FB that I will block ppl who send me forwards on whats app – helped to some extent.
I have become a twitter junkie these days but thats also on the wane and am trying to let go of my gadgets when I am on my holiday
I too prefer one on one conversations rather than group chats.. the later seems useless to me sometimes… random sentences here and there without much sense…
I do check updates and notifications when bored, or when I really need to connect… it was never an addiction or compulsion for me.. I have been tagged a social bore many a times, and it has affected me then too.. but then this is who I am… I seek peace, and quiet tranquility rather than bombardment of status updates and likes… to free myself from the ‘like-game’ I rarely post pictures of myself or dear ones online… whatever I share in fb is not meant for garnering likes anymore- it is for curating things that matter to me.. 🙂
Yes, some of us like it that way and I guess whatever we do, we need to be comfortable doing that. There were times when I used to be very jovial but only with a select group of friends/people I connected with and now, over the years, I look for peace and tranquility over anything else. I too love it that way.
Oh, I understand. I’ve opted out of many Whatsapp grps too. It gets to your nerves at times. And looks at the kids these days. While there may be a positive side to it, I feel bad too.
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I agree. Sometimes we forget that they are meant to improve our lives and not the other way round! Gadgets may not be bad but it is important that we do not let them rule our lives.