Happiful August 2020

How to
build digital
connections
As more of us than ever are working remotely, it’s natural to miss those
social moments with colleagues by the water cooler, bouncing ideas off
each other, venting after a long day, or catching up on weekend antics.
But technology is here to help...
Writing | Fiona Thomas
The sound of my ringtone
gives me anxiety. Who
dares to call ‘just to talk’?
What’s wrong with a text?
Or a handwritten letter? Anything
– and I mean anything – but a
phone call, I beg you!
I know I’m not the only one
who avoids talking on the phone.
Ofcom revealed that a quarter of
people make less than five mobile
calls a month, with 6% of people
not making any at all. And those
who do pick up the phone? Well,
two-thirds of them hang up in less
than 90 seconds. Those are my
kind of people.
Video calls are less stressful,
but like the rest of the socially
distanced world, I’m a bit
overwhelmed with virtual chats
these days. They eat into my
working day, and feel emotionally
exhausting. I’ve got Zoom fatigue,
and I think it’s getting worse.
Luckily, I’ve found an alternative.
One that keeps me in contact with
the outside world, but doesn’t
drain my time and energy. May I
introduce, the humble voice note.
WHAT ARE VOICE NOTES?
Voice notes are recorded messages
that can be sent between phone
contacts. Instead of typing out a
text message, you use the phone
microphone to record yourself
talking, and send it to the person
you’re texting. It’s a function
available on most messaging
services such as WhatsApp or
Facebook Messenger. So what are
the benefits?
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
I got hooked on voice notes when I
started working from home a few
years ago. I was running my own
business for the first time, and I
missed the emotional support of
a traditional work environment.
Being my own boss was great until
I had to make decisions, because
I had no one to bounce ideas
off. Soon, I built up a network of
virtual colleagues who were happy
to receive my vocal rants, milliondollar
ideas, and general chit-chat,
on a daily basis. Most of them
sent me voice notes back, and for
a lonely freelancer like me, the
ongoing digital ping-pong match
has been a lifesaver.
SELF-EXPRESSION
While the convenience factor
of voice notes is debatable –
they’re quicker than texting,
but not always appropriate for
the listener if they’re in public
without headphones – they offer
so much more nuance than a
text message or email. There’s
no need for emojis when you
can vocally express sarcasm,
humour, and empathy. In general,
a conversation is considered much
more effective (when compared to
texting) at conveying genuine love
and gratitude. One study found
that college students who spent a
significant amount of time texting
were less satisfied with their
relationship than other couples.