Over time, the fast-paced improvements in technology have made it harder for older adults to keep up with the change. They think this is something that has been made worse by new technology and social media.
I have a confession to make
Throughout the 1990s, web browsers such as Netscape Navigator took the internet. They were created to organize the information on the web and to help people find out what they wanted to find.
One day, I was browsing the Internet and my browser asked me whether I wanted my search queries routed to my browser from Canada, the United States, or Norway. 15 minutes later, I saw nothing but Norway. I’m contented and completely satisfied.
We’re all winging it!
Finally, a reality check
We all feel like we’re in the middle of a whirlwind. Even though it’s harder for us than in the past, it seems like we aren’t even close to slowing down. Everything seems to move at a fast rate, and it can seem to be faster than we can follow.
Even though it isn’t healthy, we can accept this situation now. The world is changing rapidly. Many people feel they are flying blind through every day of their retirement years and never catch up. Even the few who do their best end up falling further behind. We all need to have challenges to keep from deteriorating mentally and physically in old age.
It requires a lot of patience and some mental stamina to remember that all our ideas and thoughts are alike and our very helpful “friend” Google can provide direction.
Here are some tips to help you stay motivated.
1. Have you tried different programs?
Young people tend to be the most frustrated by computers, too.
Since computers and software are very literal and unreasonable, keep reminding yourself that this is the computer that is the unreasonable one!
One thing that will sound a bit more natural is to use your own words to explain the idea but to use their
Your computer will never let you off with a minor mistake. It won’t hesitate to alert you to mistakes you’ve made. If you don’t know the right answer, it will fail to remind you of it, so your efforts won’t be successful.
My secret to living with my computer has been to admit that the solution is not always as simple as I would like it to be. I’ve learned to take nothing for granted.
2. You get used to what you are afraid of after a time.
Ask your friends, family, Facebook friend, or your coworkers. They may even offer to lend you a few ideas. Be prepared to listen to people’s answers, as they might give you the wrong idea or even say something you won’t like.
If I am spending time by myself and want to do something new or explore a different subject, I will browse online for inspiration. When I have a question that is specific enough, I type my question and just add the words ‘example’ before the ‘example sentence’ in google.
Often, I simply want an alternate solution to my answer, like a quick fix for my problem. That means I often ignore learning about different approaches to a solution. This doesn’t work when I have to think about my problem for any length of time.
3. Acquiring new skills can help you boost your self-confidence.
Many articles on retirement say that you should learn to interact with technology and social media to avoid the feeling of losing connections with your ‘retirement age’ world.
Millions of people use social media for different reasons; from sharing interesting and interesting information to commenting on news or sharing opinions. You don’t need an internet connection to use many of these social media apps or websites.
I believe that confidence comes from the fact that knowledge comes from experience and experience comes from learning, and learning comes from doing. So, I find it much easier to gain confidence by learning by doing. YouTube videos provide a good way to get started with anything I want to learn, to learn by doing. I like to start projects, face problems, find solutions and keep learning.
One of the most interesting parts of my role as founder and President of A Warm Heart was learning how to use Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Linkedin to promote the work of my nonfiction and fiction writers. My learning curve is always growing and I am enjoying learning more each day with Google’s help.
It is just as easy, and you can start with anyone platform to get going. It is quite a lot of fun.
