We live in a digital, technology-driven world, and being tech-savvy is an essential skill no matter what you do for a living. Each person should be able to use technology effectively to improve their work lives and personal lives. Unfortunately, not every individual is tech-savvy. While the younger generations are able to learn technology easier, older generations struggle to understand it. However, anyone can become more tech-savvy and get the necessary skills they need to improve their productivity and make life a little bit easier. Here are tech-savvy tips for beginners to follow along.
What Does Tech-Savvy Mean?
Tech Savvy describes an individual who can easily adapt to new technologies and use technology to improve their life in some way. No matter how old, anyone can become tech-savvy since all they have to do is learn how to use a computer and cellphone effectively. Thanks to tech-savvy skills, people can work from home, complete tasks faster, and communicate better with friends and family.
Tech Savvy Tips for Beginners
As you already know, technology is a part of everyday life, and using technology can improve your quality of life by helping you do things like using the dishwasher, scheduling an appointment, and more. Being tech-savvy is a sought-after skill employers look for when hiring millennials, and here are tips to help you become more tech-savvy.
Don’t Avoid Technology
Just because you’re not tech-savvy doesn’t mean you have to avoid technology. Instead, by using technology, you can become more tech-savvy. Even if it’s just using your smartphone to track your sleep cycles, you can become more tech-savvy by using technology every single day.
You should also only ask for help if you’ve attempted to learn something and haven’t been able to figure it out. If you’re trying out new technology for the first time, try to understand it yourself before you ask someone to set it up for you. For example, if you bought a new laptop and need to install updates, try reading the information on the screen before asking a friend or family member to handle the updates for you.
Understand How You Learn
Some people learn by doing while others learn by watching. No matter how you learn, there is a way for you to understand how to use technology more efficiently and quickly. By identifying the best strategies for helping yourself remember, you can learn quickly. For example, if you learn by doing, you can purchase a new form of technology, like an activity tracker, that you can learn to use on your own by reading the instructions.
You can also break up the learning process into different segments or categories and give yourself a set structure to follow. If you’re not good with technology at all, you can start with the most common technologies, including smartphones and computers, to try to improve your skills by downloading and using apps.
Either way, you should aim to take notes along the way so you can identify what works best for you and what processes you can throw out.
Find Resources
Quality resources can help you learn about anything, including technology. However, not all resources are structured the same way, and some of them won’t make any sense to you because the intended audience is something with advanced skills. You can do a quick Google search online to find resources to help you learn any technology.
Additionally, depending on the product you’re trying to use, there might be YouTube tutorials to help you take a step-by-step approach to learning something new. Watching videos can help you learn new skills faster and are more engaging than reading long articles. However, if you enjoy learning from reading, you can still read many articles about different topics, including how to use different types of technology.
Ask Your Peers
You’re not the only one struggling to learn new technologies, so try reaching out to your peers to discuss the different ways they’re learning. You can join social media groups or talk to family and friends to see if they’re able to assist you with learning how to use technology without performing the essential functions for you. For example, someone who doesn’t know how to download an app can be shown how to do it and then try to do it themselves.
Keep Practicing
Whatever you’re trying to learn, the best way to develop a skill is by practicing. For example, if you’re trying to learn how to code a website, you can’t improve your skills by writing one line of code and giving up; instead, aim to practice every single day so you can get better and build upon your skillset. Eventually, you’ll begin to understand the true meaning of practice makes perfect.
Understand You Can’t Know Everything
No one knows everything about every piece of technology. While some engineers and scientists may be able to figure things out quickly, we’re not born knowing how to use technology. Although younger people are more adept at technology, they still need to learn how to use it. Even younger generations don’t know everything about technology. For example, a millennial who works in a warehouse likely doesn’t know how to code, and learning how to code would take a significant time investment.
Even if you’re struggling with something that seems accessible to everyone else, realize that there’s no way to know everything you need to know. Instead, accept the fact you’ll have to learn new skills to utilize technology effectively.
Final Thoughts
Becoming more tech-savvy is easy as long as you stay dedicated to improving your skills. Whether you’ve just purchased a new tool or are trying to learn different technologies to help you advance in your career, understand there might be a learning curve. Whatever technology you decide to learn about, ensure it’s something that can improve your daily life in some way or another. For example, if you want to earn a higher salary, you can learn more tools that can help you improve productivity while developing your skill set.
