25/03/2024
Technology – we can’t do without it, pretty much everything we do at some point is centred around using our smart mobile phones/devices/laptops. Websites and apps are used for communicating, shopping, medical advice, alarm clocks, tracking exercise and even dating. Technology is woven into our daily lives, and whilst there are benefits, there are also drawbacks.
According to research a third of adults have fallen out with someone after misreading text messages. One in five wrongly assumed someone was in a mood with them, because they got the tone of a message completely wrong. This can sometimes cause irreversible damage to relationships.
Below are 5 tips to reduce the likelihood of jumping to conclusions and getting it wrong.
1. Assume good intentions – Texts are short, leaving little information to work with. The lack of any facial expressions, or tone of voice can lead us to assume a person is angry. Unless they say they are angry, assume that the text is sent with good intentions.
2. Stick to lighter topics – Don’t try to conduct serious conversations via text. Texts are more useful for confirming plans, dates and times to meet. Any more serious conversations are better conducted face-to-face.
3. Don’t text when in a rush – We all at some point fire off a quick text reply. Texting when in a rush can result in using less punctuation, which means texts may be read different to how they were intended. If you have to send a quick text, re-read your text before pressing send.
4. Double check the recipient – How many times do we text someone other than the person the text is meant for. Ensure before pressing send, it’s going to the right person.
5. Ask for clarification – As above, don’t assume. Check understanding, ask for clarification on any part of the text you don’t understand.
If you need support with resolving relationship difficulties, you can contact me on 07731 580333
www.tracyraecounselling.co.uk
