Don Roulo is the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Life Quest. He is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

By DON ROULO

How social is social media after all? With all the social media and electronics we have, why are so many people feeling lonely and disconnected in their personal and professional lives? My intention with today’s article is not to trash social media, but rather give all of us something to think about. 

We have lost the personal touch we all so desperately desire and need to live a happy and fulfilling life – personally and professionally. As a matter of full disclosure, I use social media just about every day both personally and professionally. I use a laptop, smart phone and iPod, so I am definitely connected. When I speak of social media I am including emailing and texting as well.

How many times a day do you check or post something to Snap Chat, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or some other social media outlet? How many times a day do you text or email? How many friends do you have on Facebook? Are you building deep, meaningful and rewarding relationships?

I believe all these outlets can serve a good purpose when used properly. From a business standpoint, social media, texting and email can be a great way to share information and stay in touch with customers and clients. However, I recently have been thinking about their affect on our personal and professional relationships.

We actually have a biological need for face to face interaction. We have chemicals in our brain that bring us a sense of well being, happiness and fulfillment. These chemicals are only fully released when we are face to face with others, not when we text, email or post to social media.

You can spend two or three hours on Facebook posting and chatting with friends. Though you communicated with one another you can still go to bed feeling lonely or unfulfilled. This is because the ‘feel good’ chemicals of Serotonin and Oxytocin are not fully released into your system.

On the other hand, if you have a few friends over to your house for a backyard BBQ. You eat, talk, laugh, tell stories, hug and give high fives. The ‘feel good’ chemicals are fully released into your system because you were face to face with your friends. I can guarantee you will go to bed feeling happy and fulfilled compared to the same amount of time on a faceless social media outlet or device.

The ‘feel good’ chemicals work the same way in our work or business relationships as they do in our personal relationships. It is just as important for us to build strong relationships in our work and business environments.

When someone sends you an inter-office email and asks for your opinion on an idea they have what do you do? Do you send back a short email, or text which says, ‘Great, love the idea?’ Instead of texting or emailing a response, why don’t you walk down the hall and stop in to see the person who is asking for your opinion?

Go spend three minutes in their office. Now, when you say, ‘Great, love the idea’ you can give them a handshake or a high five. You can also now explain why you love the idea. The ‘feel good’ chemicals are now fully released in both people. You and the person you spoke with will experience a happier and more fulfilling work life, which helps in your personal life as well.

I am not saying to quit social media, texting or emailing. I am encouraging you to not settle for an electronic substitute for real, meaningful and fulfilling relationships.

About The Author

Don Roulo is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

As a business consultant, he has written business plans and worked to market products or services as well as organizing financial statements for investors. Because of his success in the sales and business arena, Don has been blessed with the opportunity to train, motivate and inspire others. His passion is to motivate and equip people to find their passion and achieve their goals and God given destiny.