Doomscroll
You use the technology, don't let the technology use you
#106
September 2, 2022
You should be the one using technology, not the other way around.
Twitter. YouTube. Instagram. Facebook. Snapchat. TikTok.
The iPhone is the greatest consumer product ever created. These social media services are the greatest consumer services ever created.
But if you find yourself mindlessly scrolling too often, the tech is using you (literally, those companies are actually using your scrolling to make them money). There is nothing wrong with occasionally having some fun and just scrolling through, it is like watching garbage TV every once in a while to decompress. But beware, hours can pass quickly if you are not careful.
Used with some intention, these are great tools. With the right Twitter or YouTube community, you can learn more than in any college class. I prefer Twitter since it is more interactive, while YouTube is like watching TV with a comment section. Find any topic, carefully curate the people you follow, participate in the discussion, engage, add value ... it is amazing what you can learn and with whom you can engage.
Beyond the social media services, there are so many tools out there to help you save time and effort. Bills are paid online...I used to write 10-20 checks every month. I now haven't written a check in years. This is a huge saver of time I didn't realize I was wasting.
Another example is that I spent a good part of my early career setting up meetings between various people (prospects, co-workers, internal teams, etc). Each meeting with 3-5 people typically took 5-10 emails to arrange. Then I found Doodle & Calendly ... these two services do all that work for me (and the service is basically free). I just have to send a link. It took 15 minutes for me, a non-technical person, to set up.
Please use technology. Find the tools that work for you. But don't let technology use you.
