Technology

Do you remember what the world was like before everyone had a computer at home? Before we carried them everywhere we went? If you do, you might be a geriatric Millennial (like me) or older. Hi!

Growing up, I remember the anxiety of calling a friend’s house and not knowing who would pick up. Would it be them, their sibling, or, in the worst case, their parent? The reverse also induced anxiety - who’s calling and can I get to the phone before my Dad answers?

Phone calls still give me anxiety, but in different ways now.

I don’t know if I comprehended the technological advances happening during my childhood. I do know I wanted them. We had a home computer sometime in the mid-90s, I think (and hello privilege), but the first desktop I remember completely is the Compaq Presario.

This is the PC desktop that came in different colors, and of course, we had to get the orange one. It was going in the room with all our football paraphernalia (we were diehard Denver Broncos fans). I waited weeks, maybe months, for it to arrive. I still remember what it was like to take it out of the box.

It was huge and held the world.

Starting up AOL - hearing that dial-up that meant I was connected - never got old. I had the patience to sit there and wait to be connected to the internet. Of course, being online meant the phone was tied up so I had to be sure I didn’t stay on too long in case that cute boy called.

Now, if it takes me only a few seconds to connect to a new Wi-Fi network I lose all sense of patience. My laptop is so small and lightweight I barely remember I’m carrying it in my purse. The slightest bing on my phone induces trepidation.

Things have changed.

One of the things that I think got lost in the late 90s and early 2000s (and frankly is still lost today) is that technology is a tool. It’s not a solution.

This could be why we often feel overwhelmed by the technology in our lives. Most of us have let it take over, thinking that the technology is designed to fix things when all it really does is add to the list of things we need to manage.

Technology shouldn’t control you.

You control technology.

To start with, you control if you use it or not. Obviously, not everything is within your control (or is it?) at work. There might be software the company uses or hardware that the company buys for you that you didn’t really get a say in. This happened when my partner started his new job - the company laptop is a MacBook Pro and he hadn’t used an Apple computer in a long time. It wasn’t his choice. He didn’t control what type of computer his company sent him. What he does control is how he responds to it and how he uses it.

If you are using a technology tool, make it work for you. I’m addicted to my mobile phone just like you. I carry it with me everywhere I go. I pick it up more often than I know I should. But I choose how it engages me. Which basically means I don’t let it.

The only notifications I receive are for text messages and phone calls. Notifications are turned off for all my apps, including social media. Of which I only have a few left. Those red notification dots on apps? I’ve disabled those too. I won’t let any app control my attention, and it’s been liberating. I may have my phone with me, but it’s not controlling how I use it.

Of course, not every technology is designed to be controlled in the way that I’m talking about (which could be an entire post on its own). If you find yourself with a tool that will not cooperate, you have two options:

1. Figure out why. Be curious about why the tool is causing you more stress. Maybe you need more training. You might not be using it to its full capacity. Or perhaps you’re using all the bells and whistles because they are there, even though you don’t need them. If it’s a tool you use at work and it is causing stress, speak up. Let your manager know it’s not working for you; it’s working against you. They have a vested interest in your productivity, right?
2. Let it go. Life is too short to be frustrated by a technology tool that isn’t helping you.

I could keep writing about technology and the ways it can add to our toxic productivity (and I will someday) but for now, I’d like to hear from you.

In thinking about the technology tools you use, is there one that’s driving you nuts? Why? If you’ve changed how you use technology, how did you do it? How do you see technology enforcing toxic productivity or causing burnout?

And most importantly, how would you describe a better relationship to technology? What would the world look like if everyone had that better relationship to technology?

Share your thoughts in the comments and let’s explore this together.

You might find these interesting…

Articles, posts, and conversations about productivity, hustle culture, work life, and more catch my eye. Here are some that you might find interesting from the last few weeks.

*Note: If the article is behind a paywall, I use a gift link whenever possible.*

• Where have all the vacation days gone? An analysis from the Washington Post shows Americans are taking fewer vacation days.
• Shopify recently announced they are reducing the number of meetings allowed for their employees. What will be the consequences?
• NPR reports on a recent Gallup poll that shows a decrease in American’s engagement with work. My question - was it ever high to begin with?
• I went down a rabbit hole recently and came across this blog about a 21-year-old tech worker who hired productivity assistants to watch him be productive for 16 hours a day. Yeah, there’s a lot going on in that blog.
• If we’ve had a conversation in the last two years about burnout, I’ve probably mentioned Anne Helen Peterson. Her Culture Study Substack inspires me and is responsible for a lot of the books on my to-read list (and quite a few on my read list!). This recent interview of hers with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, author of the new book Real Self-Care, only deepens my appreciation for her work.
• More of this, please.