How to Remain Present in the Digital Age

Recent times have shown us that technology is here and it is here to stay. Even before life as we knew it became disrupted by COVID-19, we were seeing digital disruption continue to rise. We knew the day would come when we were ever more reliant on technology and the cloud. None of us could have anticipated that we would all be thrown into the new digital era so soon.

Over the past few months, businesses and employees have had the opportunity to experience the future we have been predicting for years. Zoom meetings have replaced in-person meetings. Chat software like Slack have become the new normal for conversations with colleagues. Whiteboards have been replaced by Asana or Teams. At the end of the day, we may turn to our streaming services to wind down or participate in an exercise class or seminar via Zoom.

Businesses who have already implemented the cloud and various forms of technology have transitioned to a digital continuity, while others may have realised the priority to adopt these practices.

Throughout it all, it is important to remember that technology cannot replace our basic human needs. One aspect of success and being human is to show up and be present in our day to day. How do we do this when so much of our business and personal lives have been moved to a screen?

Maintain human communication

Maintaining a good relationship with your clients is going to go a long way with distinguishing you from competitors in this day in age. Before you fully switch over to chatbots, learn what your customer values. Do they prefer to talk to a person rather than a robot? Is that interpersonal relationship going to be the unique factor that maintains your customer retention at the end of the day? Think about what a human relationship can offer your clients that technology can’t. Nurture the relationship like you would in person over coffee. Start the conversation with small talk and genuine interest in how the client is doing. Ensuring your customers are valued and heard goes a long way in comparison to an unsuccessful conversation with a chatbot.

Improve communication skills

Technology exists to make life easier for us, but with that comes the risk of losing the very skills that make us human. Think back to a time when you had to read a physical paper map to drive anywhere new. Over time, those maps have been replaced by GPS on our phones. What would happen if we lost reception or the phone? Would we be able to read a paper map to continue on our journey or would we lose our way? Just like reading a map, communication is a skill and it requires practice. While it’s easy to press the Tab key to prefill an email, eventually it’s going to be hard to communicate and read in between the lines. This can result in miscommunication and disconnect. To solve this, make sure you are intentional with your communication. Make sure the key messages are present in the email or never estimate the value of a good old-fashioned phone call.

Practice brain exercises

Did you know that your memory is a muscle? It is important to exercise that muscle to improve its stamina and ability to function. Remember the time you had to remember important phone numbers? How many phone numbers can you recite by memory now that your phone records them for you? If you find it hard to remember your general to-do list or why you walked into the other room, it may be due to ‘digital dementia.’ Digital Dementia is a term coined by neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer to describe the overuse of digital technology resulting in the breakdown of our short-term memory pathways. Likewise, our skills in critical thinking are also declining due to technology according to research conducted by UCLA. Prioritising time away from the screen and Google, you can improve brain function with trivia games, puzzles and memory skill building. Additionally, meditation, exercise and proper sleep all improve memory recall.

Have boundaries

Reducing screen time where possible is important to our mental and physical wellbeing. If boundaries are not in place, we are at risk for digital burnout and fatigue. By now, we have learned that Zoom burnout is real. The best way to combat this is to develop boundaries. Reduce or shorten video calls where possible. Ensure that there are transition periods in between zoom calls to refresh with water or stretching. Take regular breaks. Don’t ditch your lunchtime break and dedicate a time to sign off from screens each night. Turn off your computer, put the phone in another room and spend time with your family. Play board games or have a conversation without being interrupted by the notifications of your phone. Most importantly, ensure that you have taken a break from screen time a few hours before bedtime as screens can create havoc on our sleep.

Be intentional with breaks

When you take a break from work, it’s tempting to look at our feeds and creep right back into the cycle of screen time. It’s important to be intentional with our breaks to avoid burnout. Exercise and nature walks can help us to reconnect to ourselves and others. Reading a book is great way to improve our cognitive skills. Cooking with the family is a great way to bond and to nourish the relationship skills that make us human. Meditation can do wonders for our memory, productivity, how we react to things, how we make decisions and our overall mental health and wellbeing. Schedule in breaks every day and stick to them. Standing up for a stretch and a glass of water every hour will do wonders for your productivity. You will return to your screen with renewed focus and improved ideas.

Refresh with old practices

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Think about how it would feel to receive one from a friend. That person took the time to be intentional about what they were writing to you. It would mean a lot more to receive that letter than the same message in an email. It doesn’t hurt to reach out to colleagues, clients, family and friends with an old school method of communication. In turn, imagine the impact authenticity would make in a world that still needs to remain connected.

Technology is bridging many gaps and improving efficiency. It is providing connectivity more than ever, but nothing will replace the connection we need to thrive as human beings. By implementing steps to ensure we show up in ways that matter, we can look after our wellbeing and others, both on and off the screens.