She Empowers: How to Really Connect in a Digital World

We live in a high-tech digital world that is only going to get more digital with the coming generations. We can order our groceries online and have them delivered at our house, we can text people instead of picking the phone up to call them, and we can even deposit checks into our bank accounts with our phones thanks to technology. If we wanted to, we could avoid human contact all together. We are the generation of likes, apps, retweeting, connecting, friends and emoji’s. While there’s an abundance of screen to screen interaction, face to face interaction is dwindling and with it depression, anxiety, and discontentment are on the rise (everydayhealth.com)

So is this screen to screen interaction really connecting? How do we move with the times but keep the simple act of communicating and really connecting with each other alive? People need people. When we start replacing real conversations and language with text messages and emoji’s we’re creating gaps for the enemy to come in and attack individuals. We need to remember that no amount of connecting online can take the place of actually connecting and getting together with people to be present with them and be a shoulder to lean on or to share a laugh with is crucial.

With our gadgets it’s easy to hide. It’s easy to appear one way but actually be the complete opposite. It’s easy to mask real issues that need to be dealt with. So how do we get back to basics here? Here’s some tips on how to start connecting with the people you love and strangers 90’s style.

1. CALL YOUR FRIENDS

Yes, we mean actually pick up the phone and check in on your friends! Once a week make an actual phone call in which you are interacting with someone without texting or through a social media outlet.

2. LEAVE YOUR PHONE IN THE CAR

If you are going out to lunch or a movie with a friend or your boyfriend, LEAVE THE PHONE. It’s okay. You don’t have to capture every moment. Be present. Give whoever you are with your full, undivided attention. They deserve it and might even need it.

3. Dare I say, GET RID OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Okay, you don’t have to get rid of all the outlets, but maybe try giving up or deleting the app on your phone for a day or two. Watch how this will free up your time and challenge you to connect in different ways. The world will keep spinning if you aren’t tweeting, trust me.

4. WRITE A LETTER

Yes. Go get some paper and a pen and write a letter to a friend! This is a good way to brighten someone’s day and an excuse to go to the post office and interact with humans.

With love and big smiles,

torrie