Healthy Tech Use

May 11, 2020 Culture / Family / motivational / public health / Technology / Traditions

Even before C-19 this was an issue.
People over-using tech to a point where it it literally unhealthy
From things like sleep deprivation which weakens our immune system and makes it harder to focus, to technology directly affecting body rhythms including heartbeat and pulse rate (frequencies and sound pattern interference), to over-isolation*, in-person social deprivation, there are so many things that we have brought on ourselves. I say we, because it happens to everybody and even with all of the external influences that DO exist, we still have a choice. If we’re not self-disciplined or strong enough to combat the influence, we also have the choice to get help with fixing that, so ultimately, all other blame aside, it’s on us. Individually and collectively, who do we expect to help us work on changing the parts of OUR behaviors that we need to work on?

They say the first step is KNOWING we have a problem right?

For some of us, we have to ACCEPT that we have a problem, because we already know. We just aren’t DOing anything about it… for whatever reasons. Many, very understandable.
But still…
I’ve been thinking about this stuff so I decided to share my thoughts, just in case anyone else can benefit from them. I shared them publicly at the #TOTALITAL Webinar Series (Part 2) on Monday, May 11, 2020.
First of all let’s definite technology, because we DO have some denotative and connotative confusion going on. Define. So that means… even… is considered to be technology, so is technology itself bad?
  • Alarm clocks that help us to wake up replacing our confused roosters. Y’all know these roosters we got here always crowing 24-7
  • Refrigerators or stoves that keep our food from spoiling or help us heat it up instead of salt and wrapping it up (or not) and cooking on a three stone or with the sun
  • Treadmills that keep us taking walks indoors instead of out in nature in the fresh air and natural environment
  • Computers and software that do computation for us, keeping your paycheck amounts right
  • Transportation instead of us using our Chevrolegsus or canoeing between land masses
  • Telephones widening our human reach (meaning the old ones that weren’t mini-computers) that stopped us from going door to door, or using smoke signals
and Ahhh yes, the internet… Britanica-who? Library-what?

So I ask us again, is technology itself bad?

No, it’s our over use of it. We don’t dislike technology. It is meant to be helpful, and yes there are people specifically hired to make things addictive for commercial purposes, but that’s not our business. Once we know better, it’s on us to do better and not fall for it, unless we choose to knowingly just because we feel like it. We do that. It’s human. People have cheat days… but we just have to work on not making them cheat living.

Now what is safety? Opposite words that come to mind are harm, discomfort, threat

I think I overheard a local elder somewhere say that our Honorable Cyril E. King made a statement about development back in the day. Don’t quote me but it ended something like, ’”development at what cost?”’
As we move forward individually and as a people, it would be wise for us to conscious decide, what is healthy to keep and then what we should let go. All things of the past were not good, but losing some of them, could definitely turn out bad.
A balance is always needed and if you’re human, we’re always learning and re-learning it. It’s not a destination that we someday arrive at and then there’s nowhere else to go. That brings me to sanity.
How would you define sanity? It’s not as easy as you think, because it can be based on perspective and social norms or expectations.

What contributes to sanity? To insanity?

…and I don’t mean the cliche about repeating things the same way and expecting different results. Depending on how specific you’re with that, it can make sense to expect different results, so we have to know what we’re talking about. The only constant is change.
How do we respond when change happens? …and it will.
In a simple Facebook survey I did of random people, Ofosu Apa & Sister Irieah Maria Stiles share that they think of Sanity as: 

”the ability to adjust perception based on shared reality”

”The ability to cope and the inability to cope”

There are numerous perceptions of what is happening in the world right now related to C19. Whatever your take on it, there’s is one thing that we can all agree to. Things have changed.
Related to tech use, the increase of use has been exponential. It was already high, but now it is noticeably worse in terms of how often and how long people are on technology. Whether it is for school, work, amongst families for social ”gatherings” or just keeping in touch with friends. Many of us are Zoomed, WhatsApp and texted out!
While we can’t totally avoid it if they are family, school or work related! We CAN do some things to keep each other sane. Consider WHAT you share, WHEN you share it and HOW you share it.

First of all, let’s remember that our levels of digital literacy and online etiquette are not the same. You’d be surprised how many people do not know how to use Facebook, send an email or even a text message on their phones! And don’t try to tell their children or grandchildren to reach them! Everyone is NOT meant to be a teacher and not everyone has the patience and understanding that it takes to keep already nervous and embarrassed adults how to learn something new, that people think they should already know how-to do. (Explain how not considering those things affects people.) I’ve taught this stuff for years and probably am about to start again due to the demand. Reduce the frustration and stress you’re causing people by your expectations. Out of consideration, try to remember to do the following:

1. WHAT you share – PLEASE VALIDATE INFO FIRST!

Stop sharing things you find or those that we’re sent to you without validating* them and especially at times outside of normal waking hours. By the time you learn that it wasn’t factual it has already gone viral. I hate using that term nowadays given the current global situation, but it makes a serious point. Misinformation kills. If you don’t understand what I mean consider that racism is taught misinformation that is passionately believed.
Don’t hate; Validate: This one tends to be a challenge because who determines which sources are ”credible” is a whole ’nother conversation. But here are a few quick tips on how to validate news.
Eight simple steps, courtesy of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), to determine whether a source is providing accurate information. http://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174

2. WHEN you share – PLEASE STOP THE 24/7 NOTIFICATIONS!

Try not to contact people outside of the average waking hours of its not necessary, extremely time sensitive or urgent. Just because you’re wide awake and excited, doesn’t mean everyone else is and you could be disturbing their sleep or peacefulness, which can affect their health and their sanity.

Instead, you can draft your message, save it and send it at a more respectful time. You can even type it right in h place where you need to and just not press sense yet. Remembering is on you though. Set a time. Remind yourself.

3. HOW you share – PLEASE STOP SPAMMING EACH OTHER!

Stop creating email, WhatsApp, mobile text or Facebook group messages without prior communication to the participants, especially if they may not know how to opt out. At the least, share the steps of how they can opt out of the messages and make them feel comfortable doing it so they have no guilt about protecting their peace, comfort or sanity by minimizing unrequested stimulation.

Instead, write a short ad about what you’d like to send to them and let them know it would be in a group message then let them join if they choose. If they don’t join, and you want to remind them once just in case they didn’t see your message, ok, but after that, leave them alone. You can make a post an mention or tag their names in the comments asking if they want to participate.

There are also mass texting apps that don’t force people into a group, but still allow you to send out messages.

unwanted help is harassment

REMEMBER: Even if the content you’re sharing is “good” for them, I always say, unwanted help is harassment. Give people options instead of forcing ideas, products, or other content onto their personal devices.

BEFORE YOU SHARE! Re-Consider WHAT you’re sharing, WHEN you share it and HOW you share it to reduce the stress we are unintentionally putting on each other by inundate each other’s personal devices.

Information overload can help to create the inability for someone to cope or adjust their perceptions based on shared realities… ”insanity”

insanity. n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality https://dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=979

Technology is supposed to help us all be more efficient and effective in whatever we do, but when abused or can be harmful to ourselves and each other. There are things we can do, but its up to us individually and collectively to hole each other accountable. When we do, we can help ourselves get back to healthy patterns of living. If we don’t have each other for support, technology can be used, but be careful about becoming dependent, which promotes the opposite effect. Let’s bring back the good habits and change the bad in each other, for each other, together.

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