Who knew that something that could empower us could also be responsible for hurting us? There is no disputing that technology has done amazing things for humanity, considering during the pandemic, we have relied on instant video calling software to keep ourselves sane. But with recent films like the Social Dilemma and shows like Black Mirror, which highlight the downsides of technology, many of us are left trying to figure what our relationships with technology should be.
Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash
In our recent blog post, Why News Overload is Making you Anxious, we detail the effects technology has on us. In Cal Newport's recent book Digital Minimalism, he exclaims that
"Digital minimalists see new technologies as tools to be used to support things they deeply value—not as sources of value themselves."
Cal Newport teaches readers how to maximize technology benefits while mitigating its downsides by becoming digital minimalists. This article includes a few of our own strategies optimized for life during the pandemic.
1. Mute Notifications from Your Favourite News Apps
Everyone knows the sound of that little ding! Or brrrrr! Or ba-boop-bing! Notifications have invaded people's lives, and it doesn’t seem like they will be leaving anytime soon. It has been found that the average smartphone user receives 46 notifications per day Which is crazy when you think about it! It's even invading our professional lives. A recent study found that workers responded instantly to 41% of e-mail notifications and 71% instant message notifications. Our addiction to being connected has forced Google and Apple to release phone usage apps to promote "digital wellness." Do yourself, and close contacts, a favour by letting the messages sit in your inbox for longer. By being more likely to respond quickly, you will give in to others’ expectations for responding immediately, creating a race to the bottom of who can drop what they're doing to answer the quickest.
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
Establish a new relationship with your digital devices by being mindful of what app notifications you leave on. Turning off notifications can be a great way to reduce the anxiety felt throughout your day. It’ll help you feel more focused and less overwhelmed. Worried about the FOMO you might feel if you don't respond immediately? Well, digital opportunities are indeed growing larger each day; that is why our next tip will be useful for redefining when you decide to check your device.
2. Schedule a Block of Time to Check Emails and News Websites
Adobe surveyed 1,000 Americans, discovering that people spend more than five hours per day checking their email. For those of you who manage others in offices, I would be concerned about this, but wasting time online is something we all do. It was found that the average user spends 144 minutes on social media sites every day, meaning that the problem is prevalent outside the office too.
Photo by camilo jimenez on Unsplash
Frankly, it is impressive that people can get work done with these numbers, but most people will find ways to check their phones while doing their work. This much time can lead to additional stress by checking your phone multiple times throughout the day. Distractions cause a vicious cycle of guilt and hopelessness, which hurts our productivity even more. Most people do not realize this fact until it's too late, and they are completely overwhelmed.
Schedule a 30-minute block of time each day to check your phone. This will help you prevent yourself from constantly checking throughout the day. When University of Pennsylvania study volunteers cut down to 30 minutes per day on social media, they experienced a “significant improvement in well-being.”
This routine can lead to enhanced focus throughout your workday and reduced stress from continually diverting your attention. Being more intentional and mindful about how you spend your time can lead to being more fulfilled in life.
3. Avoid Checking Social Media for News Updates
Social media sites are intentionally designed to capture your attention for as long as possible. In the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, ex-employees of Google and Facebook share their honest concerns about the product they were responsible for building. They shared the regret they have for creating addictive products that would dominate millions of people's lives.
Research shows that getting the information you aren't directly looking for will lead to increased stress levels. With how these products have been designed, you will most likely get sidetracks when using them. Instead, consider subscribing to news apps like Google or Apple News to get your story straight from the source. This will enforce meaningful news consumption.
4. Use Ground News for Following the News
In July 2020, many companies took responsibility into their own hands by starting a boycott Facebook advertising campaign in response to Facebook's poor handling of misinformation. Needless to say, the internet has become a warzone of political ideology, making it impossible to browse online without worries of sponsoring, biases, or fake news. That's where the team at Ground News came up with a solution.
The team at Ground News created a website that gives you a clear perspective of which sources are reporting stories —providing a clear picture of biases that could be present. Ground News has done a great job of categorizing most of the USA's most prominent outlets from left-wing to right-wing sources, making it easier for you to identify any political associations.
5. Use Trebble FM’s Daily Feed Updates
Podcasting has been around for a while. They have been quickly attracting more and more attention from popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience. Joe Rogan’s podcast has been around for nearly 10 years. Joe Rogan’s infamous for having episodes that last anywhere from 2-3 hours. Lengthy episodes make it far too difficult to find the time actually to listen to the whole show.
https://www.yang2020.com/blog/the-joe-rogan-experience/
That’s why many podcasters are trying out a new show type called Shortcasts! Shortcasts have gained popularity for their digestible and informative format. Lasting only five minutes, Shortcasts are the perfect content type to get informed quickly so you can move on with your day.
The Trebble FM app has a selection of all the best shows. The app has been designed, so you don't have to waste more time looking for what you want to listen to. The simple, straightforward design makes it easy for you to integrate into your daily routine, and the audio format makes it easy to listen while making your coffee.
If you're unsure of what to start with, you should check out the article on 5 news shortcasts to start your day with. Here, we review some of our favourite shows available on the app!
You can download it for free today by visiting the Google Play store here or the IOS here!