Technology is not the enemy. Lack of balance is the enemy. It is easy to jump on the “all new stuff is bad” bandwagon, but it is simply not so. We need to keep growing and changing. Without technology, we would not have the wheel and all the great, life-changing inventions that came after it! ~smile~
Though an addiction to twenty-first century technology has stressed many couples’ communication lines, I believe technology can also be used to enhance a couple’s time together. Here are a few ways “the new stuff” can bring a couple together instead of driving a wedge between them.
- New technology offers additional communication methods. There is something about receiving a random “I love you” e-mail from Eric that makes my day. And seeing pictures via text messages of my friends’ dogs in funny poses brings a smile to my face. Then there is Facebook messenger. Certainly not the first of its kind, but it makes communicating quickly and efficiently without voice-to-voice contact a breeze! In any given day, I can call Eric, text him, Facebook chat him, and e-mail him. All of these lines of communication mean that if I cannot reach him by one means, I can try another. It also gives me several opportunities to say, “I love and respect you!” Though I’m sure Eric and I would survive if we were sent back in time to 1985, I am thankful to have so many ways to contact him during the day. When possible, use all the different communication methods we have available to us to send encouraging messages to your sweetie.
- Thanks to new technology, there are many forms of entertainment to enjoy together. Gone are the days of three TV stations and a dependence on movie theaters. Now we can stream movies, go to Redbox and rent a movie, play games together on gaming consoles, and even read a thousand books on one device – anytime, anywhere. You and your sweetie can gather around the Kindle and read together (a great bonding experience). You can take an iPad out under the stars and enjoy a movie in the cool breeze. You can challenge each other in virtual tennis or bowling (in addition to a thousand other games) on a video game system. When employed strategically, your electronic marvels can create a marvelous time for you and your honey to enjoy together.
- Time saved by new technologies can be spent with each other! New innovations do save people time and money, but there is a downside. “Hey, since you can get through your work in half the time now, you should be producing twice as much! Wait, make that three times as much!” More production is expected, stress levels rise, and people get burnt out. In your personal life, however, you can use modern conveniences to help you get ahead without cramming more work into a day. Something as seemingly insignificant as the invention of the Swiffer Sweeper can save us valuable time. We don’t need to drag out the vacuum every other day. Just grab the Swiffer, zip up and down the hall, and then go enjoy time with your sweetie. Use your iPad to complete some work tasks, and save yourself the hassle of having to go all the way to the office on a Saturday. Work out on your Wii U Fit and spend the time you would have been driving to the gym with your special someone. In fact, work out with your special someone!
- Technology gives us more opportunities to work remotely. Now, more than ever before, people are being afforded the opportunity to work from home or other locations. The downside is that people have a hard time unplugging and relaxing because they can work from anywhere. But, the bright side is there may be more opportunities for travel and non-traditional work hours thanks to the ability to log into your work computer from many places in the world. So, when you want to go see your parents with your sweetie or you and your new spouse want to go on a vacation, the chances of you both getting away from your workplaces are higher thanks to laptops, iPads, and the internet. More people are able to work from home than ever before; and, if the trend continues, you and your sweetie may be able to enjoy a lot of time together that would have otherwise been spent behind a desk at work. Yes, sometimes technology is awesome. ~smile~
There are several articles online about how technology may be harming your relationship and I am sure they have many good points. Technology, when used without boundaries and for purely selfish reasons, is a tool for relational destruction. However, when you tell your technology what to do instead of letting your technology rule your life, you can employ it for good – in the workplace and in your personal life.
What are some other ways you can take characteristically distracting electronic (or otherwise) devices and turn them into relationship builders? Think about it and find ways to include your sweetheart as you enjoy technology. ~smile~ And, as always, remember to stay balanced.
How have you and your sweetie used technology as a means of emotional connection?