This is a guest post by David Turnbull
There’s no doubt that technology can cause a lot of headaches, headaches which aren’t particularly conducive to stress control. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Technology can be used to lessen, and even eliminate many day to day stresses if you know how to properly embrace it. Here are 7 simple ways you can use technology to control your stress:
Automate.
We’re still a fair way off from the promise of autonomy that the evolution of artificial intelligence will bring (along with our eventual doom if Terminator has taught me anything), but there are plenty of systems currently in place that can take the work out of formerly repetitive tasks.
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Online banking can be used to setup automated bill payments. The same technology can be used to transfer money into investments, savings etc.
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Email filters automatically organise incoming messages. Then you can prioritise based on these rules.
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Apple’s MobileMe service syncs your contacts, emails, images and files automatically, allowing access to them on various devices. This eliminates the chore of entering data multiple times.
Whenever you feel you’re doing something repetitive, ask yourself: can this be eliminated, or at the very least, can a computer program handle it for me? In many situations the answer will a glorious YES!
Simplify.
The sole purpose of technology is to simplify processes. But that’s been forgotten by some companies. So it often causes more pain than joy.
Here are some things to remember when buying technology to control your stress levels:
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Really understand the problem you’re trying to solve. You may just want a mobile phone to call people. In knowing that you can purchase a phone with less features but is designed with a stronger focus on actually placing a call can reduce frustration, right there.
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Stick with companies that embrace simplicity. You’ll have to ask around depending on what you want to buy, but I’ve rarely had problems with products from Apple and Logitech. A router I bought from Netgear on the other hand has been nothing but trouble.
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Properly research products. Always check out Amazon and NewEgg before buying electronics to see what other people are saying about them. If you read a negative review, verify why the reviewer didn’t like the product; the issue they had with it may not be that big of a deal for you.
Save money.
One of the major causes of stress is money. No one seems to have enough and saving it seems impossible. The internet can help here also.
If you’re in the US sign up for an account at Mint to have your money managed automatically. The software will tell you how to save money and help you manage your budget. There’s also BillShrink, designed to help you minimise some of your bills.
For everyone outside of the US you may want to try out Wesabe, which isn’t as nice as Mint, but has more social features and broader support for banks.
To save money check out shopping comparison engines such as DealTime or make use of Bing’s cashback engine. Coupons and discounts can also be found via Savings.
Create freedom.
Mobile devices and netbooks are increasing in power and functionality. You no longer need to be tied to your desk to complete your work. Take advantage of this.
Negotiate with your boss about spending some more time out of the office, or if you want to take it a step further, start your own business on the internet. It requires hard work and dedication, but with such low barriers to entry, it’s not too risky to at least give it a shot.
For negotiating tips and advice on starting your own business check out Tim Ferris’ book, The 4-Hour Work Week.
Do less.
Good news, you don’t have to do everything! If you value your time more than money, consider hiring a virtual assistant using a service such as AskSunday. Instead of spending all afternoon making reservations for a business trip, simply pay an assistant to do it for you, and then enjoy the free hours doing something you love.
Other popular sites for finding virtual assistants include eLance, Brickwork and oDesk.
Own less.
These days, few gadgets perform a single function. Instead of printers, there are combinations of printers and scanners. Digital cameras can often record video, and the Apple iPhone has countless functions with the help of the iTunes app store.
This is significant because it allows everyone to own less. And whilst owning less may seem as a downgrade in the consumerist, “more is better” view of the world, you’ll find that the less you own, the less you have to worry about.
Achieve peace of mind.
We’re living in an information age and that information must be protected. Passwords, emails, contacts, files, spreadsheets and bookmarks: all of these things can disappear in the blink of an eye because of a hard drive failure or malicious attack.
But fear not! There are a few simple things you can do to avoid data loss and the stress of starting from scratch.
- Sign up for an account at Mozy. You simply download the client, choose the files you want to backup and Mozy will handle backups automatically in the background. It only costs $4.95 per month for unlimited storage, and it’s one of the greatest investments I’ve made.
- Use a password manager such as 1Password (Mac) or RoboForm (Windows). These allow you to store your passwords in a single file which can be easily backed up manually or using Mozy. And they’re also great for managing hundreds of online accounts and generating complex, hack-proof passwords.
- Stick with an online email service such as Gmail if you can. Data loss is still somewhat of a risk but companies like Google have their reputation to protect so they have many systems in place to prevent it.
Putting any one of these technology-based suggestions into practice could result in a significant improvement in personal productivity as well as enhance the present quality of your life by reducing or eliminating stress!
David Turnbull is a Buddhist blogger, computer geek, book worm and Apple fanboy. He spends his time sharing his ideas about technology and simplicity on his blog, Adventures of a Barefoot Geek, and chatting with people on Twitter
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