Get The Rest of Your Life Back—Toss the Tech Tools

Published by Ryan Paugh on April 24th, 2008 in Personal Development, Technology | 14 Comments

As a web entrepreneur, I think about the time I spend in front of a computer constantly. How much is too much? And when should I call it quits to enjoy what I love so much more – real social interaction?

Becoming absorbed by technology is inevitable in most business environments. From the Fortune 500 to local Mom and Pops, everyone is trying to do their work faster and cheaper. And of course, technology is the easy answer.

Unfortunately, overuse of technology has its side effects. Even if you see these effects as minimal, just ignoring them is irresponsible. Here's why.

Health Risks

A couple weeks ago, The New York Times published an article citing recent tragedies related to the overuse of technology. Two bloggers recently passed away. And another blogger, Om Malik, of GigaOM fame, suffered (but survived) a heart attack last December.

There's no proof that these tragedies were in any way directly related to their work, but it really makes me think. What kind of physical toll is an all-day-all-night laptop binge having on my body? As if binge drinking and secondhand smoke at the bar weren't enough.

As someone who interacts with most business connections online, I'm prone to sitting in a chair for way too long. So if you're like me, do yourself a favor and stand up.

I'm not going to be the guy who tells you to go to the gym and turn your life around. Just get up, walk around and get your blood flowing a little bit. It'll make a huge difference.

The Social Aspects of Work

Today I dropped by the post office. I walked in and instead of going up to a clerk at the front desk I was invited by one of the postal agents to try their new automated mailing technology.

A kind old lady showed me how to use the new technology. We joked about the crappy weather here in Madison and then I left with a smile on my face. It was great. But as I left, my mood shifted entirely. This lady was teaching me to interact with her replacement.

Before you get all depressed, I can certainly tell you that this lady was looking forward to her retirement. The point here is that there are these small, valuable things we take for granted, like meeting someone new every day. But when those things are replaced by technology, I can't see the world being a happier place.

Take a moment today and appreciate the people who serve you. Not that this will stop companies from trying to boost productivity, but at least it'll give you a chance to see what I'm talking about.

Our Own Mentality

Take mental health breaks every day. Me, I have my dog. I take him to the park, he runs around, I try to keep up, and then I go back to work. Your mental health break can be anything you want. Try riding a bike or something. I come up with great ideas when I ride my bike.

The idea is to get away from the technology that can make life more artificial, not get more consumed by it. And although surfing the web can be very stimulating, your brain needs balance.

My favorite example of this is doing redesigns on Brazen Careerist. By the end of the night, our minds are so fatigued, eyes completely glazed over, that we don't even speak to each other. I can't even answer a simple question without "Huh?"

Sure, these types of nights are the nature of our business, but only maybe every other week, at the most. Someone who lives this every day likely has some risky mental and physical health. Try something non-techy on a regular basis and get the rest of your life back that you've maybe forgotten about and shouldn't be missing.