Have you ever said:
“I’m too old to learn this new computer stuff”
“Just when I figure it all out – it changes again!”
“This is too complicated, why bother with it at all”
If so, you may be experiencing tech overwhelm. Even though you intellectually understand that it would be helpful (and sometimes even necessary) to be able to use an online portal, post to social media or save your documents in the cloud. That said, the learning curve feels too steep and given all that you have to do – picking up a new skill is just one step too many.
Sometimes, you can avoid having to learn new technology by having others (free family help desk or paid professionals) do it for you. That works – sometimes. On the other hand, being able to do the tech “thing” (set up a smart speaker, use Bluetooth, have a video chat with friends/family) is empowering and – dare I say – even fun!
Reframing works for tech blocks too, remember that:
You don’t have to know everything about a product/service before you can use it. Often the “Full Use” mentality (that you need to understand and use every feature and benefit that a device and/or service can provide) prevents you from getting what you can out of it.
Start slow and increase your knowledge step-by-step. It can be a relative proposition, as long as you are getting what you want from the device/service, does it matter if you understand all the ins and outs? I often compare this to driving a car – you probably do that daily to get you from A to B without having to know the mechanical processes under the hood.
It’s OK to use only a portion of what tech can do.
Re-frame how you think about it – what matters to you is what matters.
It’s more important to get started than to get it perfect.
Recent Comments