High Tough, Low Tech

On the lower left side of my computer monitor, there is a card that lists five tips I try to follow for having an outstanding day. Although it’s really just there as a reminder to me, visitors often ask about it, and I don’t mind explaining.

Some of those things include:

• Going through my schedule the first thing in the morning to decide what to work on.
• Get up every hour and move around.
• Only check email once an hour.

Although I have a cell phone and I think it’s useful for so many things, sometimes I think the things that are important to us can get buried in our electronic devices.

And for something as simple but important as the tips that I use to have a productive day, to have those invisible unless I go to my phone or launch an app, I’d rather just have it right in front of me.

A former graduate school professor of mine used to call this “high touch/low tech.”

It’s interesting to me how often we try to figure out how to use technology to make something easier, when we might realize, upon a moment’s reflection, it’s easy all by itself.

I saw a video this morning of customer getting a pizza delivery and becoming totally confused when the delivery person mentioned the payment had to be made in cash. Confused, having thought she already paid via the app she ordered from, he tried to explain several different ways the method he was requesting: actual money.

Sometimes, we needlessly complexify.

But, I digress. The “high touch” method is just having reminders right there in front of you.

In fact, I recommend to coaching clients if there is a list of things they find helpful helpful for them to be reminded of — things that help them focus, be more productive, lose weight, exercise, etc. –  to write them on a three by five card.

Nothing fancy, and easy for them to take it out and look at it or have it on their desk. Or right on their computer monitor.

So if there’s things that you feel would be helpful for you to be reminded of throughout the day, put them on a three by five card, a Post-It® note, or something else. I think you’ll like the high touch, low tech method.

Question: How have you simplified your life using something high touch?