Machines taking over us?

Will Machines take over Humans?

It is a hypothetical question the interested party seeks a definitive answer to and the ignorant party fret about silently. What do you think? Will machines and technology control us?

The moment we think of it, we imagine scenarios that appear in the movies/Series like Matrix, Terminator, Person of Interest, etc... Where a humanoid metal form comes and politely removes humans from the world's equation. Let's not get to the amplified imaginary version of reality yet!

I am here to tell you that machines/technology has already taken over us!

Yes, you read that right. I am not talking about self-driven, AI-powered robots but about the machines in the form of gadgets that we unfathomably assume that's helping us perform better.

Let us look at an average corporate person's life (you and me) and see how much tech/machines have taken over. An alarm from a mobile phone wakes him/her. The first thing is to check the calendar/to-do list for which a person uses multiple apps like #ToDoist #Ultiself , etc... While exercising there is a smartwatch telling that he/she has not met the ambitious goal that was set on excitement and overestimating one's reality. And while traveling for work he/she is glued to the mobile, scrolling News apps, or Social media apps. After reaching the office spends 9+hours or even more (if he/she is a fan of hustle culture) with a work computer or laptop powered by multiple apps. And in between breaks it's again the mobile phone with him/her. Getting away from work the routine is back with mobile phones and after reaching home it's for spending time with a personal laptop/television quoting a remarkable phrase -" #netflix and Chill". And end the day calling out to #alexa #okgoogle #siri and say - Wake me up at XX am!

I am quoting the obvious here and we have realized these at times too. But some of us can argue the fact that phones and Laptops are not controlling me but I am controlling them. Think again! I am sure we can be right about the fact when it comes to working laptops because we have entered into a contract with our employer to spend our 9+ hours or even more at work in return for money and benefits. What about the rest of our waking time? I am sure we haven't entered into a contract with #meta or #netflix or #amazon or #videogames yet, we mindlessly spend way too much time, consuming content that's not adding value to us in any way. Forget value, spending time on these apps has increased the risk of #depression , #anxiety , #loneliness as per this article https://tinyurl.com/594pdeb9 .

This clearly proves that Machines/Technology indeed has taken over us!

What could we do about it? How could we reduce the impact of these machines on us?

The answer is Connect Within! Connecting within simply means spending time with yourself away from machines/gadgets or technology.

Now do not hate tech/machines. I am someone who appreciates and loves technology soo much that I have spent countless nights watching videos and reading articles on tech reviews and new technology. During a reflection activity, I figured out that I am spending a lot of time with Tech/Machines rather than myself or the people around me. I had to fix it and I experimented with multiple methods or connecting within.

Here are a few successful outcomes from my experimentation that might help you:

You would have read my previous #newsletter on writing and yes, writing was something that helped me connect with myself.

The other method that helped me was reviewing my screen time and app usage time on my devices and uninstalling apps that consumed my maximum time and reinstalling it after 2 or 3 months to break the chain/addiction. Of course, I don't want to completely get rid of it because as I said, I love technology and I wanna experience them in moderation.

Another method of connecting to myself was sitting quietly, call it mediation or call it boredom therapy. I simply tell myself to "Sit Quietly" and I would be sitting quietly in a corner or in a park doing absolutely nothing. I know it might sound lunatic but it has helped to connect to myself many a time.

These are the top 3 #productivityimprovement tips that have helped me connect within!

I am interested to know what helps you connect within. Do share your tips as comments :)