So lengthy, 2020.
What a bizarre, wild rollercoaster of a journey that was. If I would advised you this time final 12 months that the 12 months had issues like pandemics, masks, an enormous surge in working from house, and quite a lot of weirdness on social media, I doubt you’ll have believed me.
Nicely, you may need believed the weirdness on social media bit. Social media has at all times been a hive of… weirdness.
I’ve to start out out by saying that I have been very blessed in 2020.
My work has at all times been “do business from home” (or wherever I occur to seek out even a whisper of a connection to the web), and my work has continued uninterrupted. In some ways, together with my esteemed ZDNet group, I used to be in an excellent to advise and information individuals and firms within the shift to working from house, as a result of that is what we’ve been doing — and doing very effectively and productively — for years.
I’ve additionally been fortunate to reside in a rural space. Whereas that has its downsides, the previous 12 months has allowed to me to get a deeper reference to nature. And though the place I reside has not escaped the lethal contact of COVID-19, I do know many who’ve been tougher hit, and my coronary heart goes out to everybody touched by this horrible illness.
Should learn: {Hardware} 2.0: Most used devices of 2020
So, sufficient with the trying again. Time to look ahead. What are my tech plans for 2021?
Nicely, ranging from the essential assumption that simply because one thing works for me, it won’t be just right for you, I current the next as “my plan.” Nothing extra. Be at liberty to select something that feels prefer it is likely to be good for you and depart the remaining. Equally, be happy to go away all of it. Additionally, when you have some plans or concepts of your individual, be happy to share them.
Additionally, whereas this can be a listing, it is not in any order of precedence. It is extra an summary of issues I need to be extra conscious of in 2021.
Extra rigorous, compartmentalized social media use
Social media — Twitter particularly — is a wasteland. The rot began with Justin Bieber followers, however jingoistic politics on either side of the Atlantic, after which the wild 5G/COVID-19 conspiracy theories have completed it off.
Lies, disinformation, and, fairly frankly, froth and nonsense has turned it right into a wasteland.
Whereas I plan to maintain my Fb/Twitter/Instagram, I’m going to make them my very own. Observe and work together with individuals who carry my soul whereas on the identical time ruthlessly wielding the block hammer.
Life is just too brief to argue with individuals whose aim is to get into arguments.
There’s far more I may say concerning the ills of social media, however I will depart it at that.
Extra breaks away from screens
It is arduous for me to get away from screens with no large pivot in what I do. Screens in of themselves do not make me sad, however I do really feel a distinction once I’m away from them for an excellent chunk of time.
I’ve seen that once I’ve had a day of working with my palms, or a day in nature, there is a completely different high quality to my mind. It is clearly good for me.
I will be doing extra of that.
I additionally wish to get out within the morning with my cup of espresso, and spend a while each night letting the day go, each instances leaving the cellphone behind. Placing screens away when consuming, or when having a dialog, or half-hour earlier than mattress (I name them “display screen no-fly zones”).
Small issues, however good methods to disconnect.
I will be doing extra of that too.
Additionally, longer breaks, breaks of some days away from screens, actually resets my thoughts. I come again sharper and extra targeted, and I really get extra carried out than if I hadn’t taken the break.
I used to suppose breaks have been wasted time. I used to be mistaken.
Breaks are trickier in COVID instances, and I do know many are brief on area of their properties or area in nature, and that getting away isn’t an possibility. However even just a few days of a change of routine actually helps me.
Extra “distraction-free” tech use
My Kindle Oasis is the proper device. No social media, no social messaging apps, no video games, no browser. Simply me and my books and audiobooks.
I will be utilizing it extra.
I am additionally a giant YouTube person, and I’ve simply taken out a subscription to YouTube Premium. What a distinction that makes. No adverts and having the ability to have YouTube within the background. It is nice.
Sure, OK, I do know that there are methods round YouTube adverts, however I take into account the content material that individuals are placing up value paying for. I put up with the adverts, now I am paying to make them go away. That is a good trade that enables me to sleep at evening.
Utilizing tech to enhance my health
Final 12 months I went into winter with what I would slightly be my weight popping out of winter weight. However it’s as it’s. However I do plan to get again into being extra severe about utilizing tech to trace issues like my exercises and weight and so forth.
That is one thing that works for me, feels good, and that I discover motivating, however I do know it does not work for everybody.
Extra excuses to get into nature
Taking pictures, flying my drone, testing ruggedized gear. I will be utilizing all the reasons I can to get out into nature extra typically.
Transfer each hour
Rise up and transfer extra in the course of the day. Stroll round, get a cup of espresso, go searching for a pet or a cherished one, do some press-ups, pull-ups, or swing a kettlebell.
Something to interrupt the sample and add some selection to the day.
Making extra connections
Regardless of my rant about social media being largely dumpster fires, I’ve me good individuals there. I am fairly introverted on the entire, however in 2021 I plan on making new connections with good individuals, and deepening my reference to present associates and colleagues (that is one thing I have been neglecting).
What are your plans for 2021? I would love to listen to from you, even when you have no plan apart from to outlive (as a result of that is one heck of an excellent plan additionally!).