No, we are not about to tell you about emails and mobile phones. Our generation has witnessed, survived, been a guinea pig, benefited from, the most changes in digital and communications technology that any generation has witnessed. We moved from snail mail to email. We saw phones lose their wires and wall tethering. We saw virtual work make an appearance.
As we probably know, changes will continue to happen, probably faster and faster. Though at times we may yearn for a world as it was many years back, our practical selves and survival instincts ensure that we keep pace with the developments around us. And, in many cases, we have discovered the joys that can unfold when we embrace technology, like a video call with one’s children or grandchildren in another corner of the world, or watching a movie on demand.
This is a quick digital primer for the thriving Retired But Ready community. While a few popular apps, tools and platforms have been referred in the ensuring paragraphs, specific tools could vary based on geographical limitations. We encourage you to explore relevant tools in your own geographies and locations.
Your smartphone is a friend
Our access to the digital world is either through our laptop or our smartphone. While we may feel more comfortable looking into the big screen of a laptop and typing on well spaced-out keys, it is the smartphone that is with us constantly. Hence, the more comfortable you are with your smartphone, the greater your access into the digital world.
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A quick overview of what your smartphone can help you do;
- Video calls with friends and family
- Telehealth consultations
- Payment of bills
- Banking transactions
- Ordering groceries
- Taking pictures and videos
- Updated news
Freelance work platforms
Platforms offering freelancing work opportunities are a boon for the Retired But Ready who may no longer be inclined to do full-time work but have enough gas in the tank to do it on a part-time or occasional basis. These platforms can extend your productive life well beyond the traditional retirement date.
Some global freelance work marketplaces that you should explore:
Upwork (upwork.com)
You can create a profile and be found by employers, or explore offered opportunities and bid for them. It offers a wide variety of jobs such as writing, translation, video-making, administration, marketing, SEO, etc. Upwork claims to have a selection process in place; interested freelancers are evaluated based on the need for their areas of skill.
Fiverr (fiverr.com)
This is a gig-based platform where you offer your services in a “productized” form. Potential clients interested in the offering will reach out to you.
Freelancer (Freelancer.com)
Similar in nature to Upwork, with jobs being offered that can be bid for by interested candidates like yourselves.
Virtual Meetings
While a lot is to be said for meeting someone physically, face-to-face, digital technology has evolved to deliver a nearly-there experience with a variety of virtual meeting solutions. Virtual meetings and video conferences have existed for a long time in the arsenal of organizations, but used as an exception and not a rule. The Covid pandemic that swept across the world in 2020 and made physical meetings impossible, provided a crucial impetus to the mainstreaming of virtual meetings. The most common platforms are:
- Zoom
- Google Meet
- Microsoft Teams
With virtual meetings, you are just a button push away from seeing your loved ones.
Entertainment
Your favorite movies and shows are now available on demand on apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime. You no longer need to wait for one to be scheduled at a suitable time.
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Similarly, all your favorite music can be accessed in just a few clicks through apps like YouTube and Spotify. No longer do you need to sift through carefully preserved vinyl records or CDs to locate your track.
Whatever your preferred indoor game, chances are there is a thriving online community with thousands of participants. It could be bridge, it could be chess, it could be Sudoku, it could be Solitaire, or it could be one of many other types of brain games and puzzles. These activities will enable you to be a part of an ever-expanding community of people with similar interests, stay entertained and stay sharp.
Virtual health
Wearable devices enable you to monitor vitals on an ongoing basis and even send out distress signals in case of need. The Apple watch, Fitbit and Garmin ecosystems offer a wide variety of options to choose from.
The universal acceptance of virtual meetings has led to the establishment of telehealth and teleconsultation as accepted methods of consultation.
Going a step further, fitness apps are leveraging the increasing comfort with digital to deliver guided sessions on yoga, stretching, Zumba, etc.
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These tools do not replace a doctor or hospital. They make being healthy a continuous and participative exercise. And enjoyable too.
Staying Connected, Staying Cautious
Digital devices can help you monitor your vital signs, but cannot do much to improve them. Physical activity is an essential part of human existence. A judicious mix of physical, mental and other forms of exertion is required for a healthy life. Plugging into the digital world indiscriminately can be harmful for health.
While video calls can be a great way to connect, they cannot replace the energy of a game of tennis with a friend or the warmth and emotional connectedness of someone sitting next to you.
It is important to be aware of the limitations off digital technology. It has spawned a vast network of crooks, out to defraud gullible users of their money and good name. Seniors are viewed as a particularly vulnerable demographic. Hence, use technology with caution, as a means to an end, and not an end in itself.
Join the Retired But Ready community and stay connected, stay cautious.
In Conclusion
The list of useful apps is long. Whatever be your area of need, chances are, you will find a digital solution that makes it easier, faster and often more fun, to do what you need to do.
At the same time, digital technology does not replace the lifelong skills and knowledge you have gained. These will remain your own and continue to be your calling card. As Dr. Seuss said: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
