I'd add another crucial "old way" to trust again: printed maps for navigation. We're so used to Waze or Google Maps that we can journey through life while never knowing where we are, which means we'll miss the core of human life: moving from "here" to "there."
I wrote about this and offered solutions a little while back on my Substack here:
You are so right! I realized that my GPS had been consistently sending me down the highway to reach my son's swimming class, but looking at a map, I realized that I could get there on normal streets in about the same time. Let me tell you -- it is so much more pleasant driving down regular streets, seeing my city from the ground, instead of barreling down an anonymous highway at 80 mph. This has been happening to me more and more -- speaking to people about how I arrived somewhere, they'll tell me, "oh, you can take this back road and there's never any traffic" and i'll curse my GPS. it's definitely helpful in a bind but there is something to be said about knowing the lay of the land and making your own choices -- instead of letting a computer decide for you! and the upside is that i see the sights -- a mexican restaurant i wouldn't have known about, a garden center with a great selection, and my kids love seeing all the trucks and construction vehicles on the roads!
I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't acknowledge that the only reason I'm able to live half a world away, while not completely uprooting myself from Europe is because of these apps. The banking apps, invoicing apps and all of the tech gears turning in the backend that make modern life work are super convenient, no doubt.
Without touching into the gig economy issue, because that's a monster problem in and of itself. My generalized problem with apps is that they're addictive.
I don't have any social media apps on my phone anymore. I still have my social accounts, and can check them on my browser on my laptop should I want to (as it turns out, I don't really care to.) My phone use has been reduced to direct messages with friends and family, and other apps aimed at solving a straightforward problem (banking, other bills, maps, etc.)
Hi Bianca! I completely agree with you about the convenience, especially when you're working between continents. One of the main reasons why I made the switch to the smartphone was when I moved out of the country and needed WhatsApp to communicate regularly with my family and friends back in the States.
Do a lot of the apps you use have desktop options that you could use on your laptop? I have been switching over from my apps to other solutions that don't require a device. Not all apps are available on a website or laptop, but many are and it's a good way to divest from the addiction of the handheld device.
Great suggestions, thanks!
I'd add another crucial "old way" to trust again: printed maps for navigation. We're so used to Waze or Google Maps that we can journey through life while never knowing where we are, which means we'll miss the core of human life: moving from "here" to "there."
I wrote about this and offered solutions a little while back on my Substack here:
https://thehealthyjew.substack.com/p/maps-and-apps
You are so right! I realized that my GPS had been consistently sending me down the highway to reach my son's swimming class, but looking at a map, I realized that I could get there on normal streets in about the same time. Let me tell you -- it is so much more pleasant driving down regular streets, seeing my city from the ground, instead of barreling down an anonymous highway at 80 mph. This has been happening to me more and more -- speaking to people about how I arrived somewhere, they'll tell me, "oh, you can take this back road and there's never any traffic" and i'll curse my GPS. it's definitely helpful in a bind but there is something to be said about knowing the lay of the land and making your own choices -- instead of letting a computer decide for you! and the upside is that i see the sights -- a mexican restaurant i wouldn't have known about, a garden center with a great selection, and my kids love seeing all the trucks and construction vehicles on the roads!
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing your experience finding yourself in the world, literally.
You make some interesting points.
I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't acknowledge that the only reason I'm able to live half a world away, while not completely uprooting myself from Europe is because of these apps. The banking apps, invoicing apps and all of the tech gears turning in the backend that make modern life work are super convenient, no doubt.
Without touching into the gig economy issue, because that's a monster problem in and of itself. My generalized problem with apps is that they're addictive.
I don't have any social media apps on my phone anymore. I still have my social accounts, and can check them on my browser on my laptop should I want to (as it turns out, I don't really care to.) My phone use has been reduced to direct messages with friends and family, and other apps aimed at solving a straightforward problem (banking, other bills, maps, etc.)
Hi Bianca! I completely agree with you about the convenience, especially when you're working between continents. One of the main reasons why I made the switch to the smartphone was when I moved out of the country and needed WhatsApp to communicate regularly with my family and friends back in the States.
Do a lot of the apps you use have desktop options that you could use on your laptop? I have been switching over from my apps to other solutions that don't require a device. Not all apps are available on a website or laptop, but many are and it's a good way to divest from the addiction of the handheld device.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Most do, yes. I work in software and often times you start with a browser version to test functionality and then you bring it into a mobile format.
Going analog is also a great choice!
One of my least favorite buzzwords - "disruption."
All of this disruption is disrupting society! Who knew?!