Tacky Texting
Technology is wonderful for communication today, but it’s up to you to use it sensibly. You can connect with others 24/7, but do you really have to express yourself day and night? If you immediately begin texting the minute you can’t talk by phone, it’s time to use self-discipline. Sometimes your texting needs to wait. Get a grip on yourself in the following types of situations:
- Meetings
You usually attend a meeting because there’s information you need to know. It’s extremely rude to sit in the room with your neck bent down, eyes glued to your phone, as you text away while a speaker ― any speaker ―is talking. Even if you look up now and then, it’s clear that you’re not giving the speaker your full attention and that you believe that what you have to say in your text is more important than whatever the speaker is talking about. Well, it’s not. Put your phone away. NOT on the table, so you can be distracted by incoming messages and be prompted to reply. Set it on vibrate and put it away. If you feel you must be on high alert for emergencies, then at least put your phone in your pocket, sit in the back of the room, and exit to check your texts and calls as you feel you must. Other than dire emergencies, everything else usually can wait. The challenge is for you to change your thinking about the urgency of your ceaseless communications.
- Meals
Dining with family, friends, colleagues, and business associates is very important and can be a great source of support and uplifting. Enjoy this experience. Pay attention to them. Don’t plop your phone on the table and rubberneck at the screen the entire time you’re with them. Enjoy the conversation and put energy into connecting with them face-to-face. Put the phone away. Let important contacts know where you’re dining and trust that your host, restaurant staff, or authorities will notify you if there’s any earth-shattering news. Reality Check: Most things can wait the length of time it takes to enjoy a meal.
- Driving & Walking
Though you know about the dangers of texting while driving, you still may feel compelled to read messages at red lights and to answer the first chance you get. Why is this? What makes you that important that people can’t wait to get your reply until you’ve reached your destination or a safe place to pull over? Texting while driving is literally a life and death matter, and under no circumstance is worth risking your safety over. And do you really have to reply to a message while crossing the street?! Really? While walking? Let common sense prevail and realize that a car might hit you, you could fall off the curb, or knock somebody down while you’re texting away and not looking where you’re going. Think of all the stories you’ve heard about people texting while going up and down the stairs, bumping into folks and causing lock jams everywhere. Don’t be one of them. Your message can wait. Put the phone away.
It may give you great pleasure that you can communicate to your heart’s content all day and all night. But give yourself and those around you a break. Use some restraint. It’s not only rude, but dangerous in some circumstances, so stop and think about what you’re doing. When you’re in situations where you need to pay attention to others or to where you’re going, put the phone away.
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About the Author:
Dr. E. Carol Webster is a clinical psychologist consultant specializing in Success Psychology.
She is author of the book for those dealing with the stress of success ―
Success Management: How to Get to the Top and Keep Your Sanity Once You Get There,
The Fear of Success: Stop It From Stopping You! ―
the book to help you overcome fears that may be holding you back in your life and career
and
The Private Practice of Clinical Psychology in: Voices of Historical & Contemporary Black American Pioneers
E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology Consulting
Mailing Address: 7027 West Broward Boulevard, #262 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317
954.797.9766 http://DrCarolWebster.com
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