Navigating Healthy Relationships in a Digital Age
In this new era of universal AI usage, it can seem as though we are drawing further and further away from real connections. As if navigating social media wasn’t enough, there are now more apps than we can count, more bots than we’d like to speak to, and more virtual realities than we could care for. People seem to be getting lonelier and more disconnected despite always being “connected,” especially post-pandemic. The digital age is growing increasingly tricky to navigate when it comes to having healthy relationships and health communication with real people regularly.
In transitioning from being a full-time pharmacist to a speaker and content creator, I have had to stay intentional about my relationships in a different way. Before, I left the house Mondays-Fridays for work and Saturdays for Sabbath time with my church family. Now I work from home and really leave home “as needed.” Even though the digital world is my newer domain, I cannot say it’s the most enjoyable space to navigate.
Here are my top 5 tips to navigate healthy relationships in our crazy digital age:
Schedule time for others: I have to be intentional to speak to people these days. The introverted side of my ambivertedness has been winning since 2020. I actually created a private Calendly for my friends to put themselves on my calendar so I am not going weeks and months without connecting with them. Sounds weird, I know, but it helped me transition from a the routine of the steady 9-5 schedule into the abstract world of being my own boss.
Put the phone away when with others: I promise, you can last a few hours without it. I actually like to go on walks with my mom or my nextdoor neighbor sometimes, and I won’t bring my phone so I can be fully engaged in our conversations. I also, though my new role does require capturing content where I go, try to minimize how often I do that throughout an outing with friends. Being present is a reward in and of itself.
Call people: I know, it’s so much easier to text or shoot a DM full of memes. But a quality phone call or video chat that has nothing to do with business can really be refreshing, especially if in-person is not an option. Seeing a face and hearing a voice you love is better than simply liking every IG post they have.
Take digital sabbaticals regularly: Even if it’s choosing to read a book while you eat instead of listening to a podcast or watching videos, giving your brain an opportunity to not listen to anything digital. I believe these breaks throughout each day actually help me in my relationships with others because I have practiced not being distracted all the time.
Turn on Do Not Disturb mode: I practically live in that setting now. Notifications on my phone, watch, tablet, and/or laptop can really throw me off. Whether I’m in a meeting or just spending quality time with a loved one, I don’t want notifications interrupting my focus and attentiveness to the other person(s).
As you go into the weekend, I hope you get to hide from the digital world to enjoy some special moments so that you can cultivate the relationships you have around you.
