It's a new year which means it's time to break those old habits and pick up some new habits. We all know that it's hard to keep New Year's resolutions, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. As you're starting that path to new lifestyle changes, don't forget about making some positive changes to your digital life as well. I know you probably don't know what good tech habits you should pick up this year, so I've put together a list of tech solutions to get you started.
1. Forget Passwords. Use Passphrase instead. When you rely on that old school method of picking a password, you'll fall into the old habit of using your kid's or dog's name for a password. A passphrase is a short phrase or a combination of two or more words you combine to make a password. Passphrases allow you to create your own random words like 'waterchimp2016!' or 'stolencape6710@' These random words have no connection to you and are easy to remember. If you want to make a game out of creating passwords, order the 'Password Generator for Ten Sided Dice' book. This book with hundreds of nouns makes a game out of password creation by allowing you to roll dice that will help you pick out the words for your passphrase. You can order the book at www.passwordgeneratordice.com
2. Please, Make Sure all of your Devices are backed up. The heartache of losing your documents, video, and photos is excruciating. I can't count the number of times every year we have to consul someone because they didn't have a back. There is no excuse not to have a backup. There are plenty of cloud storage services that exist. Most are easy to set up and they all offer a ton of storage space. For most services, your data is encrypted so you have confidence your data cannot be accessed even if the cloud service you use suffers a breach. If you don't trust the cloud, get an external hard drive and have your data configured to be backed-up automatically. For total protection, back up a copy on your computer, on an external hard drive, and on online storage.
3. Reduce Your Screen Time. It's been proven that spending too much time on your devices causes you to lose sleep which will make you an insufferable jerk. You need to put down that device on a regular basis and connect with the real world. Technology is great, but learn how to take the occasional break to spend face time (not the app) with your friends and family. If you've replaced your paper novel with an e-reader when you read before bed, enable the blue light filter on your smart device. Not reading or looking at tech devices before bed works much better.
4. Not updating your Devices on a Regular Basis. New tech device vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered which is why you are constantly seeing security updates. Yes, they are annoying, but you need to download these updates to prevent falling victim to hackers and viruses. You also will miss out on updates that will fix performance issues and any bugs in the software. Most tech devices have the option now to enable automatic updates so you don't have to worry about making sure they run.
5. Practicing Poor Ergonomics. Wow, when was the last time you've heard someone use this word? Not a term with more and more people using mobile devices, but it's something people need to be aware of. Good posture and good lighting is important when you work on your devices. If you are still working on a desktop computer, adjust your chair and monitor that works for you. Remember to take regular breaks, as sitting for long periods is not good for you. The same goes for your smart devices. If possible, hold your device at eye level. Hunching over your device can cause back and neck issues. Save your body and take advantage of Siri and Google to complete tasks on your smart devices. Your body will thank you in the years to come.
What bad tech habits are you looking to eliminate in 2019? Let me know in the comments section below.
Want to ask me a tech question? Shoot me an email to burton@burtonkelso.com! If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you.
If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
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