Technology + Anxiety = Techziety
<ul>
<li>As time passes by, technology has been evolving continuously and many among the older generation are experiencing anxiety with technology. </li>
<li>We have turned to social media apps to connect with our friends and family and due to certain situations, even businesses and learning have all turned online using Zoom, Facebook, and other variants, thus began the Virtual Revolution.</li>
</ul>

Techziety

Pros:
<ol>
<li>Having a flexible work schedule</li>
<li>Huge reduction in commuting time</li>
<li>The evolvement of solutions to communication challenges</li>
</ol>
Cons:
<ol>
<li>Deterioration of human connection</li>
<li>Decreased attention span</li>
<li>The expenses and functionality of gadgets within the budget range</li>
</ol>

The Virtual Work Setup: Pros and Cons

With the upsurge of the virtual world, we tend to often worry whether we'll be able to connect to the meeting, gadget malfunction, or if you will be able to integrate the message you want to send through a virtual meeting. 
If you're experiencing this, try these:
<ol>
<li>Have a back up plan ready. If you have a presentation, print out your report or send everyone a copy in advance;</li>
<li>Invest in technology, it will be worth it;</li>
<li>Allow yourself to rest; and </li>
<li>Remember that it's not the end of the world.</li>
</ol>

Overcoming Techziety

<h2>
 What it is and how to overcome it. </h2>
 Posted Nov 18, 2020 <UL><LI><img alt="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/all/modules/custom/pt_social_media/img/icon-share-round-facebook-md.svg" width="37" height="37"></LI></UL><div class="caption">Telehealth</div><div>Source: Canva</div>A few years ago, I began looking at what was happening to older adults as more communication was taking place via text, email, and even cell phone and wrote a series of blogs addressing that issue. My goal was to help older adults <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/refire-don-t-retire/201608/overcoming-geriatric-technophobia-part-iii" dir="ltr">master these new skills</a> to communicate more effectively with their friends, colleagues, children, and grandchildren.&nbsp;I received a number of positive responses to that series, some on the website, and some personally, since I had sent it out to a number of my friends and colleagues.<div>article continues after advertisement</div>Almost a year ago,&nbsp;the world changed dramatically with the upsurge of the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/coronavirus-disease-2019" title="Psychology Today looks at Coronavirus" dir="ltr">Coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and the beginning of the Virtual Revolution. Many of us began working from home and stopped having face-to-face contact with our friends and colleagues. We turned to Zoom, Facebook, and its variants as a primary mode of communication. Not only did that occur in our relationship with friends and colleagues, but professionally as well.I have both an active medical psychology practice and work with a number of organizations that provide legal services, financial consultation, healthcare, and on. You know what? It ain't the same as it used to be, and it's not going back to how it was. Over the past six months, how many times have you visited your physician or other healthcare provider face-to-face as opposed to having a <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/online-therapy" title="Psychology Today looks at telehealth" dir="ltr">telehealth</a> or phone meeting? My guess is not many.&nbsp;If you are an attorney or have friends or family who work in the legal profession, many, if not most, of them are doing depositions and mediations virtually rather than face-to-face. Courts are closed, and some trials are now taking place using Zoom as a platform.Some of these changes are&nbsp;positive:&nbsp;<UL><LI>A flexible work schedule.</LI><LI>Reducing commuting time.</LI><LI>Developing creative solutions to communication challenges.</LI></UL><img alt="Canva" height="194" src="https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/default/files/styles/article-inline-half-caption/public/field_blog_entry_images/2020-11/picture2.jpg?itok=nPonDoEm" title="Canva" width="312"><div class="caption">Zoom fatigue</div><div>Source: Canva</div>But this virtual world has its own drawbacks. Ever hear of Zoom fatigue? It’s what happens when you've been on Zoom meetings for three or four hours or have had four Zoom meetings in a day. It's hard to stay focused. It's hard to stay engaged. It's just hard. While I anticipate that new platforms will make it easier, we are at the beginning stage in the development of virtual communication technology, similar to where we were when the first mobile phone came on the scene. Think about what smartphones do now and compare that with what you could do with your first cellphone, nothing but call or be called.<div>article continues after advertisement</div>Now something new has emerged, “Techziety”, which is what happens when someone has a virtual meeting coming up and they become really <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/anxiety" title="Psychology Today looks at anxious" dir="ltr">anxious</a>&nbsp;which interferes with their enjoyment of other activities. What are they worried about?<UL><LI>“Will I be able to get online and connected to the meeting?”</LI><LI>“Will my computer/cell phone/iPad malfunction?”</LI><LI>“Will I be dropped by the system and not be able to get back on?”</LI><LI>&nbsp;“If I've got something to present, how do I integrate that into a virtual meeting?”</LI><LI>“How do I look and sound? How am I coming across? Am I being too noisy or not noisy enough?”</LI></UL>Those of you who have read my previous blogs know I move toward solutions rather than stay at the problem level. I also encourage others to send me their solutions and I share them in future blogs.Some things you can do if you are experiencing Techziety:<OL><LI>Have a backup plan. If the presentation slides aren’t showing up, make sure you have all of the talk printed out and just read it.</LI><LI>Over-invest in technology. If you’re a business that needs to communicate more effectively with clients and employees, make sure that you have the “best of the best” equipment. Have someone in your organization be the technology guru to reduce anxiety.</LI><LI>Become a better you. Spend some time learning things like <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/mindfulness" title="Psychology Today looks at mindfulness" dir="ltr">mindfulness</a>, positive <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/self-talk" title="Psychology Today looks at self-talk" dir="ltr">self-talk</a>, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and all the rest. It can really help you to worry less.</LI><LI>&nbsp;It ain’t the end of the world. No matter how careful you are, no matter how focused you are, no matter the quality of the equipment that you’re using, something will go wrong. It is not a matter of&nbsp;if, but a matter of&nbsp;when. Since most others have had similar problems, you will be forgiven.&nbsp;</LI><LI>It’s really worth it, even if it takes a lot of work. I recently held a Zoom meeting with five first cousins that I had not heard from in decades. One person couldn’t be seen, one person could be heard but couldn’t hear others, and other glitches which we overcame. If not for the pandemic and lockdown, would we&nbsp;ever have done that? No way! And two or three more cousins may be joining us the next time we virtually connect.</LI></OL>Now let me hear from you, not only about Techziety, but what you’re doing to overcome the challenges you face in today’s world.<UL><LI><img alt="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/all/modules/custom/pt_social_media/img/icon-share-round-facebook-lg.svg" width="45" height="46"></LI></UL>

How to feel better in a rapidly changing world.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

technologyandthefuture

Technology & The Future

communication

Communication

teamwork

Teamwork

business

Business

A few years ago, I began looking at what was happening to older adults as more communication was taking place via text, email, and even cell phone and wrote a series of blogs addressing that issue. My goal was to help older adults <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/refire-don-t-retire/201608/overcoming-geriatric-technophobia-part-iii">master these new skills </a>to communicate more effectively with their friends, colleagues, children, and grandchildren. I received a number of positive responses to that series, some on the website, and some personally, since I had sent it out to a number of my friends and colleagues.

Almost a year ago, the world changed dramatically with the upsurge of the <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/coronavirus-disease-2019" title="Psychology Today looks at Coronavirus">Coronavirus </a> and the beginning of the Virtual Revolution. Many of us began working from home and stopped having face-to-face contact with our friends and colleagues. We turned to Zoom, Facebook, and its variants as a primary mode of communication. Not only did that occur in our relationship with friends and colleagues, but professionally as well.

I have both an active medical psychology practice and work with a number of organizations that provide legal services, financial consultation, healthcare, and on. You know what? It ain't the same as it used to be, and it's not going back to how it was. Over the past six months, how many times have you visited your physician or other healthcare provider face-to-face as opposed to having a <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/online-therapy" title="Psychology Today looks at telehealth">telehealth </a>or phone meeting? My guess is not many.

If you are an attorney or have friends or family who work in the legal profession, many, if not most, of them are doing depositions and mediations virtually rather than face-to-face. Courts are closed, and some trials are now taking place using Zoom as a platform.

Some of these changes are positive:

<ul><li>A flexible work schedule. </li><li>Reducing commuting time. </li><li>Developing creative solutions to communication challenges. </li> </ul>

But this virtual world has its own drawbacks. Ever hear of Zoom fatigue? It’s what happens when you've been on Zoom meetings for three or four hours or have had four Zoom meetings in a day. It's hard to stay focused. It's hard to stay engaged. It's just hard. While I anticipate that new platforms will make it easier, we are at the beginning stage in the development of virtual communication technology, similar to where we were when the first mobile phone came on the scene. Think about what smartphones do now and compare that with what you could do with your first cellphone, nothing but call or be called.

Now something new has emerged, “Techziety”, which is what happens when someone has a virtual meeting coming up and they become really <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/anxiety" title="Psychology Today looks at anxious">anxious </a> which interferes with their enjoyment of other activities. What are they worried about?

<ul><li>“Will I be able to get online and connected to the meeting?” </li><li>“Will my computer/cell phone/iPad malfunction?” </li><li>“Will I be dropped by the system and not be able to get back on?” </li><li> “If I've got something to present, how do I integrate that into a virtual meeting?” </li><li>“How do I look and sound? How am I coming across? Am I being too noisy or not noisy enough?” </li> </ul>

Those of you who have read my previous blogs know I move toward solutions rather than stay at the problem level. I also encourage others to send me their solutions and I share them in future blogs.

Some things you can do if you are experiencing Techziety:

<ol><li>Have a backup plan. If the presentation slides aren’t showing up, make sure you have all of the talk printed out and just read it. </li><li>Over-invest in technology. If you’re a business that needs to communicate more effectively with clients and employees, make sure that you have the “best of the best” equipment. Have someone in your organization be the technology guru to reduce anxiety. </li><li>Become a better you. Spend some time learning things like <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/mindfulness" title="Psychology Today looks at mindfulness">mindfulness </a>, positive <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/self-talk" title="Psychology Today looks at self-talk">self-talk </a>, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and all the rest. It can really help you to worry less. </li><li> It ain’t the end of the world. No matter how careful you are, no matter how focused you are, no matter the quality of the equipment that you’re using, something will go wrong. It is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. Since most others have had similar problems, you will be forgiven.  </li><li>It’s really worth it, even if it takes a lot of work . I recently held a Zoom meeting with five first cousins that I had not heard from in decades. One person couldn’t be seen, one person could be heard but couldn’t hear others, and other glitches which we overcame. If not for the pandemic and lockdown, would we ever have done that? No way! And two or three more cousins may be joining us the next time we virtually connect. </li> </ol>

Now let me hear from you, not only about Techziety, but what you’re doing to overcome the challenges you face in today’s world.

Techziety

Techziety

The Virtual Work Setup: Pros and Cons

Overcoming Techziety

CURATED BY

Related collections

More like this