• About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Merch
SWHELPER
  • Login
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
Post Jobs
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Health Mental Health

How to Be Truly Connected to People in Our Technology Obsessed World

Nicola SmithbyNicola Smith
08/15/2017
in Mental Health, Technology
0
How to Be Truly Connected to People in Our Technology Obsessed World
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

technology fast

It’s early morning and your alarm has just sounded its daily wake-up chime. Without thinking about it, you reach straight for your phone and scroll through social media seeing what all your friends and favourite celebrities have been up to since you last scrolled your feed 7 hours ago.

A notification pops up, it’s the little head and a plus sign, you’ve got a new follower! Filled with an immediate rush of endorphins, you head to their page to snoop some of their recent photos, leave a few likes, post some meaningful comments and follow them back. ‘Wow, we have a lot in common, and they don’t live too far away from me!’ you think. When your new follower reciprocates with interaction on your account it the coming days, you’re sure you’ve made a new virtual, perhaps soon to be in-person, friend.

A week passes and you remember that you should message that new follower to see if they’d like to catch up some time and then the realization hits — you’ve been unfollowed and you can’t help but feel disheartened by thinking your previous interactions on social media were more than a vain ploy for more likes, more comments, and more followers. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s making us forget how to truly connect with people in today’s technology obsessed world.

Sure, technology has completely changed our lives and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities that technology has brought me. Writing this article on my laptop from home, for instance, once wouldn’t have been possible without the internet and all the information available at our fingertips.

The question remains though, how do we properly connect with people beyond our laptop screens and the often-false nature of social media? Here are a few ways to authentically connect with like-minded people in-person, just like our parents and grandparents used to.

Smile

Smiling is powerful. It indicates to the world that you’re open to meeting new people and starting a conversation. Even if it’s a friendly nod as you run or bike past someone, it fosters what we all ultimately want — connection and belonging. As Paul Ekman, one of the world’s leading experts on facial expressions found, ‘smiles are cross-cultural and have the same meaning in different societies.’

Next time you’re thinking of ordering your food or coffee through an app on your phone, take the extra time to visit your favourite coffee shop or restaurant and order in-person. Walking into a space with a positive outlook and a smile on your face will bring other high vibe people into your world.

Find local meet-ups or activities that like-minded people attend

This might seem counter-intuitive, but hear me out! Use technology to find ways that will help you connect with like-minded people. Search for local meet-ups, a new gym class or in-person educational class or training and sign up. Don’t overthink it! Just sign up, show up and see who you meet along the way. Being in a room of like-minded people instantly gives you something to talk about and helps foster connections that you wouldn’t otherwise find scrolling through your newsfeed.

Turn off notifications

A 2016 study by dscout, found we touch our phones about 2,617 times a day! The constant ding and beep of our devices has made our attention spans short and interrupts us when we’re working, and more importantly when we’re spending time with loved ones or out making new friends.

Give yourself time each day, or each week if that’s where you need to start, with phone notifications turned off. Not having the constant buzz of phone notifications will allow you to actively listen to conversations and properly appreciate your surroundings when you’re out and about.

Just say yes

When someone invites you to a new place, new activity or on an adventure, just say yes. Don’t overthink things and see what new opportunities and people come into your life as a result of getting out and about in the world. This doesn’t mean you should be constantly running around with no down time, but when someone suggests that you grab that coffee ‘sometime’ or asks you to fill in on the social soccer team, just make a plan and stick to it.

Learn to be on your own without technology

This also relates to the point above. Saying yes to meeting new people and putting yourself out there by attending local events or classes doesn’t mean you must be constantly out and about. If you’re an introvert or know you need some downtime by yourself each week, schedule it into your calendar. Knowing you have that set time each week to unplug and read or book or get outside and exercise will help with recharging your energy. After all, once we can be by ourselves without constantly checking our phones, we’re going to be so much better at connecting with people in-person too.

While technology has helped us do things we never thought possible, taking the time to experience the world without being constantly tethered to your device, observing your surroundings and making the effort to meet like-minded people will help you truly connect with people.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
Tags: notificationssmart phonesSocial MediaTechnology
Previous Post

How Republican Plans to Cut Obamacare and Medicaid Hurt Older Americans

Next Post

A Teacher’s Response to Charlottesville for Social Workers in Practice with People with Disabilities

Next Post
A Teacher’s Response to Charlottesville for Social Workers in Practice with People with Disabilities

A Teacher’s Response to Charlottesville for Social Workers in Practice with People with Disabilities

Please login to join discussion
ADVERTISEMENT

Featured Jobs

Clinical Nurse or Psychologist or Occupational Therapist or Social Worker (Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician)
Queensland - Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service
Location:    Child and Youth Mental Heal...
Master Social Worker
San Antonio, TX - Undisclosed
Licensed Master Social Worker University Health ...
Master Social Worker
San Antonio, TX - Undisclosed
Licensed Master Social Worker University Health ...
Master Social Worker
Chinle, AZ - Undisclosed
I. General Description: Under general direction,...
Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health (Health and Human Rights)
New York, NY - Columbia University Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health
The Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family ...
Medical Social Worker - OSH
Tucson, AZ - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Medical Social Worker
Lancaster, PA - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Practice Administrator - Oral Surgery
Bellevue, WA - Bel Red Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Practice Administrator Oral Surgery Practice Locat...
Practice Administrator - Oral Surgery
Issaquah, WA - Advanced Dental Implants & Oral Surgery
Practice Administrator Oral Surgery Practice Locat...
Oral Surgery Dental Assistant
Westfield, NJ - Center for Oral & Facial Surgery
Center for Oral & Facial Surgery https://www.cente...
Practice Administrator - Oral Surgery
Westfield, NJ - Center for Oral & Facial Surgery
Practice Administrator - Oral SurgeryOn-site Pract...
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Clinton, NC - Liberty Health
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER Clinton-NC-28328-Uni...
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Dunn, NC - Liberty Health
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER Dunn-NC-28334-United...
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Southern Pines, NC - Liberty Health
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER Southern Pines-NC-28...
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Sanford, NC - Liberty Health
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER Sanford-NC-27237-Uni...
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Lumberton, NC - Liberty Health
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER Lumberton-NC-28358-U...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
Heathrow, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
Aventura, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
Ft. Lauderdale, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (copy)
New Castle, DE - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Corvallis, OR - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Long Island City, NY - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Middletown, DE - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Wexford, PA
Wexford, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - West Chester, PA
West Chester, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Wayne, PA
Wayne, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Warrington, PA
Warrington, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Squirrel Hill, PA
Squirrel Hill, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Plymouth Meeting, PA
Plymouth Meeting, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Oakland, PA
Oakland, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Multiple Pittsburgh Clinics
Pittsburgh, PA - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Multiple Philadelphia Clinics
Philadelphia, PA - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Media, PA
Media, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Lehigh Valley, PA
Lehigh Valley, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - King of Prussia, PA
King of Prussia, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Havertown, PA
Havertown, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Haverford, PA
Haverford, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Glen Mills, PA
Glen Mills, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Exton, PA
Exton, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Doylestown, PA
Doylestown, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Bensalem, PA.
Bensalem, PA - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Assistant Professor of Department of Economics & Commonwealth Honors College
UMass Amherst, MA - UMass Amherst
About UMass Amherst UMass Amherst, the Commonwealt...
NSF Postdoc Fellowship
Northern California, CA - Emory University
Dr. Cassidy Puckett NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship Jo...
Remote Licensed Social Worker - Houston Metro Area
Houston, TX - Optum
WellMed, part of the Optum family of businesses, i...
Social Worker - LGSW
Washington, DC - Delta-T Group Virginia, Inc.
Delta-T Group is a nationwide provider of interim ...
School Social Worker FT Comp starting at $42
Monroe Township, NJ - Delta-T Group North Jersey, Inc.
Our client is seeking School Social Workers or the...
Social Worker
Washington, DC - Delta-T Group Virginia, Inc.
Delta-T Group is a nationwide provider of interim ...
Behavioral Health Technician - $23 per hour
Dallas, GA - Delta-T Group Georgia, Inc.
Delta-T Group has been in business for over 35 yea...
SY 25-26 School Social Worker
Park Ridge, IL - Delta-T Group Illinois, Inc.
SUMMARY OF CLIENT'S DESCRIPTION OF THIS OPPORTUNIT...
View All JobsPost a Job
Powered by

  • Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    94 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

    694 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Biopsychosocial Perspective to Mental Health and Illness

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Stages of Development: Aging Across the Life Span

    580 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • My Journey as a Teacher and the Future of Education

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
SWHELPER

We bring content to support you and the people you care about in their various stages of life. If you are searching in google on how to help or assist a loved one or yourself, check out our content.

LEARN MORE »

  • Terms of Service
  • Article Submissions
  • Advertising
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Category
    • Business
    • Culture
    • Economy
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Opinion
    • Politics
    • Tech
    • World
  • Find/Post Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    If You Enjoyed This Post
    Join Our Newsletter
    Subscribe
    Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime.
    Close