Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Kathryn Storm

Notes to my future self

What seems outdated might actually be a way back to connection.

What does it mean to be “more human?” To have empathy and deep connections. Empathy is our ability to understand others and share their feelings. Empathy is a facet of deep connection. Deep connection is also about the attention and time you give someone.

As a product designer, keeping up on technology that interests me or is relevant to my work is second nature. This year I focused on how technology affects human relationships and well-being. From online harassment to the promise of connection through social media. It inspired me to reflect my own experiences in 2017 and what could have gone better. Themes that needed my care and attention.

Maybe my own lessons learned can benefit you, too.

Make more phone calls

Even if you fear a scenario in which you pick up the phone, dial and hit voicemail. More often than not you won’t. And even if you do, leave that message. It will inspire a long overdue, connection-filled conversation.

Life is too short to wait for people to understand and support you beyond the screen.

I feel more connected to the people in my life when I can move one level beyond texting. Beyond brevity, the conversation is different. It takes time. And giving someone your time and attention is part of a meaningful relationship.

Do things you love

Or return to things you love. When you do something you love, you motivate yourself. Social media can give us social reward but can we still remember how to reward ourselves?

My Saturday ritual at The Ballet Studio.

Make time to regularly check in with yourself

Make note of what you’ve accomplished and what you’re currently doing. Constantly telling yourself you should be doing more can be demoralizing.

After seeing curated posts on social media, I always think I should be doing more. But you’ll never catch up with the newsfeed of accomplishments.

Surround yourself with people who get it

Your goals, what you love. Life is too short to wait for people to understand and support you beyond the screen. Another part of this is sticking with people that respect your time and letting go of those that don’t. A like is not friendship.

Alone together?

Technology isn’t evil but it didn’t show up one day without impact either. It took me a year to come up with these lessons learned. Reading about the impact of technology inspired me to take a closer look at its place in my own life. And to make changes where I want my life to be more human.

Clap to show your support and share your own insights in the comments below. Want to talk about design, community, or equity? Find me on Twitter!

Making 2018 More Human was originally published in Prototypr on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Making 2018 More Human

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