Technology – a source of stress

Technology has become a major source of stress in modern life. It's not that technology is a bad thing; it certainly isn't. Thanks to technology, we can get more done; we can live longer; we can communicate with loved ones all around the world and a whole lot more besides. It's just that we are so poor at managing technology. In fact, you could easily argue that we don't control technology; we have let it control us. Rather than use technology to improve our lives, we have allowed it to steal our time and our energy; and thus technology becomes a source of stress in our lives. The following are just two examples of how we have allowed technology to change the way we live our lives, in a negative way.

It’s for your convenience, not everyone else’s

What the ...? I'd never heard a phone ring in a lecture hall before. The girl was embarrassed but after a couple of minutes rooting around in her handbag she managed to locate the offending phone and the ringing stopped. Anybody could forget to turn their phone off, easy mistake. But then; less than 2 minutes later, the same phone started to ring again. She hadn't bothered to turn the bloody thing off. Some questions sprung to mind:

• Why did she need her phone turned on during a lecture?
• If something more important was going on; why did she attend the lecture?
• Having failed to get through on the first occasion, why did the caller suddenly think that their chances would be better less than 2 minutes later?

That was in the late 90's and mobile (cell) phones were relatively new to Ireland. Sadly, the manners and expectations re: technology, have gotten a lot worse since then. Technology is fantastic if used properly but one really has to wonder at some of the use and abuse of technology that is displayed on an everyday basis.It seems to have become acceptable to use a mobile phone anywhere and at any time one chooses. I have witnessed phones ringing and being answered on numerous occasions where one might reasonably expect better manners. This misuse of technology is a common source of stress as there is now an expectation that we must always be contactable; making it difficult to compartmentalise our lives.

The death of the traditional conversation

Social networking sites have also taken on lives of their own. I was in the University library a couple of years ago when a young girl walked over to the boy sitting beside me. She asked him to add her on Facebook so that they could talk and then left the library. I am no lawyer but I do not recall face to face communication being outlawed. Face to face communication leads to deeper, more meaningful conversations where friends can help and support each other through good times and bad. A good social support network is essential for anyone who is attempting to overcome stress, anxiety or depression. Sadly, we regularly hear of young victims of bullying who had hundreds of friends on social media but still had nobody to talk to when times got tough for them. If you feel that you may be experiencing stress, check out Stress Free Living.

Technology is there to be utilised and to be enjoyed but it is important to remember that technology is there for your convenience, not everyone else’s. You do not have to be available at all times, you do not have to answer every call and you do not have to reply to every post or inform your friends of every little thing that happens in your life. So turn the phone and the computer of for a little while everyday and enjoy your own company or the company of family and friends. Take charge of technology and it will soon cease to be a source of stress in your life.