Winging It in a Fast-Changing World
Strategies to keep up and move forward…
Let’s face it. Our world is moving fast — way faster than it has for most of our lives. This speed can feel overwhelming. We can feel left behind, feel older and not altogether sure we are really needed in this world.
Needless to say, this is not a healthy feeling and not an enjoyable way to spend our years as we get older. Fortunately, we are not alone. The world is changing so fast that no one is actually caught up. The fact is that most people are winging it through each day. If you’re not winging it , at least some of the time, you may be falling further behind.
It’s important to remember that we all need challenges to keep from deteriorating.
This sometimes requires more patience than we have at hand. We have to remember that we are all on the same boat and our friend Google is there to help. That’s where I found some strategies to help us keep up and keep moving forward.
Computers and software are very literal and totally unreasonable. We need to keep reminding ourselves that the computer is the unreasonable one, not us.Your computer will never compromise. It will never let you off with a minor mistake. If you don’t know exactly the right answer, your efforts will fail. It doesn’t care if you’re a beginner, expert or Nobel Prize winner.
My secret to living with a computer has been to admit that I need help at some steps of the way. When I’m stuck, I try not to blame myself or try to figure out a solution on my own. I immediately go to Google or YouTube and start asking questions.
There are no stupid questions when you are asking a computer. I find it quite comforting to know that the computer answering my questions has no feelings or judgements.
Anytime I want to explore a new idea or learn how to do something, I always ask Google for examples of how others have done what I want to start doing. I don’t even have to restrict my search to key words — I can use full sentence questions. The more specific the question, the better. I always want the simplest solution I can find, so I try asking my question in different ways. This helps with my immediate problem, and I learn the new things along the way.
Adding new technology and social media skills can help sharpen your memory and your mind. Just by learning a few things, you can avoid the feeling of being out of step with the modern world.
Today, millions of people of all ages use social media on a regular basis. Actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, religious leaders and your neighbor next door.
Learning by doing can give you confidence. In fact, most people find it much easier than learning from a book or manual. YouTube videos are a good way to get an overview of any topic or skill you want to take on. Just get started, when you run into problems, find a solution and keep going.
I’m learning to promote my writing with Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Each day I’m learning more and loving it — with Google’s help, of course.
It’s easy and free to get started. Just pick a platform to begin with and have fun!