DIY or Call Tech Support? What's the best approach to technology?

Where are you reading this? And, while you're checking this out, how many other apps are open on your phone, or how many other pages in your browser? Chances are, we have given similar answers, and we are multitasking. To put it in another way, we have all been moving from an app to ther other, and from a website to another, to see what's new and what has happened in those 2 minutes we have not been there. Hey, don't leave now, stick with me a bit more!

Most of us can readily figure the implications of procrastination and distraction in our daily lives, both at work and at home. Less obvious are sometimes the consequences of precrastination, or busyness. Besides the monetary costs for organisations and society, there are costs in terms of well-being and lower satisfaction and happiness for each of us.

Companies are starting to work on these issues, adopting new practices and technological solutions. And, individually we are often looking for tips to be more efficient and stay connected while not loosing contact with ourselves and what matters for us. The number of articles and tools built around these needs and issues can be an indication of the relevance and importance of finding approaches that can free us from abusing our attention. At the same time, research seems to point to the fact that not being able to connect or use technology can lead to a sense of anxiety (see the various acronyms such as FOMO, FOBO or, nomophobia). Technology can be addictive and generate new expectations; the initial pleasure can be undermined by overuse.

So, how can we adress these problems? There seem to be two different perspectives, although we believe they not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, mixing the two each can create his/her own recipe. We have lebelled these perspectives "DIY" and "Call Tech Support".

The "DIY" approach: use behavioural principles and time management techniques. Treating technology as a possible source of addiction, we are trying to disintoxicate from it. We can give ourselves the chance to check our phones every 15 minutes at first, and lengthen this interval over time. We can set breaks from technology every hour or so (considering our brain seems to need at least a short break at specific intervals, even more so when we are engaged in taxing tasks). We can profit from breaks to do something that replenishes our attentional resources, such as going in the nature, looking at nature from the window, meditating, doing short physical exercise.

The "Call Tech Support" approach: use technology to make technology less burdensome. Basically, some apps and tools allow us to filter the information that comes our way, and select which information is relevant (sometimes even depending on where we are or the time of the day). Devoting some time to set these apps and tools up, based on our needs, and some time to revise the settings every once in a while, when our needs might have changed, can be a great strategy to cut out most of the noise, and reduce distractions. Also, some tools allow integration among different operations, such as posting on social apps while reading, without having to move from one site to another, and saving us time.

As we have said, missing out can generate a sense of anxiety. There is an intrinsic pleasure in being able to use technology and connect with the rest of the world, or access so much information. At the same time, we might have the feeling that we need to be on top of it all, all of the time. Checking in with ourselves about these fears and assumptions, can give us more self-awareness of our real needs and what we are trying to solve/achieve through technology and our online presence.

Having more knowledge of our technological habits and the impact on our feelings and moods, we can start working on simple rules to help us be less distracted, and more satisfied both while online and while offline. Good news is, even technology can support our quest. While online, we can use apps and tools to help us set and respect the new rules, yet being effective in our online presence. Having saved some precious time, we can go offline feeling less frightened and replenish ourselves taking care of our bodies and minds, sure that technology is working for us while we are not online.

Next step: distract yourself finding apps that can help you to cope with distraction. But, set a time limit for that too! Find your own mix!