A post I read a few weeks ago has stayed with me ever since.
It was written by Bekah Atkinson, the current president of WISER, and with her permission, I wanted to share the idea as we head into a new year.
Bekah looked at the keys we use on our keyboards every day and turned them into reminders for how we might approach the year ahead:
⌨ SPACE:
Make room to breathe, think and step away. Not every problem needs to be solved immediately. Sometimes a little space is exactly what helps us see the solution more clearly.
⌨ ENTER:
Try the idea. Send the email. Make the call. Start the project. We don’t always need to have everything perfectly figured out before taking the first step.
⌨ SHIFT:
Change your perspective. When something isn’t working, ask, “What could I do differently?” A small shift in approach can sometimes open up possibilities we didn’t see before.
⌨ DELETE:
Let something go. An unnecessary commitment. The guilt about something you didn’t finish. The expectation that you have to say yes to everything. Some things simply don’t deserve any more space.
⌨ ESC:
Give yourself permission to step away. Close the laptop. Take a walk. Change the scenery. Even a short escape can give your brain the reset it needs.
⌨ CTRL:
Focus on what you can control. We can’t control every challenge or unexpected change, but we can choose how we respond, where we put our energy and what deserves our attention.
⌨ TAB:
Move to the next thing. Progress doesn’t always mean finishing everything. Sometimes it means recognizing that you’ve done what you can and giving yourself permission to move forward.
And perhaps my favorite…
⌨ PAUSE:
Most keyboards don’t even have a Pause key anymore. Maybe that’s the point. We have to create the pause ourselves.
What This Has to Do with Technology
I love this metaphor because it also captures so much of what I try to help people do with technology.
Technology shouldn’t simply give us more to do.
Used well, it can help us create space, reduce friction, remember what matters, communicate more easily, work around barriers, stay organized and feel more independent.
Sometimes the solution is a new tool. Other times, it’s changing one setting, simplifying a system you already use, or looking at the problem from a completely different angle.
And sometimes the most helpful tech advice is knowing when to close the screen altogether.
The key I keep coming back to
For me, the key I keep coming back to is SHIFT.
So much of my work involves helping people look at a challenge differently. Instead of asking, “Why can’t I do this?” or “Why is this so hard?” I love exploring a different question:
“Is there another way?”
Sometimes the answer is a new technology or an accessibility feature that was already sitting on the device.
Other times it’s a simpler system, an AI tool or one small change in how something is done.
That little shift in perspective can make a very big difference.
And Then There’s Undo
And if the first idea doesn’t work, there’s always Ctrl + Z.
If you’re not familiar with that shortcut, Ctrl + Z on Windows, or Command + Z on a Mac, means “Undo.” It reverses the last action you took.
I love that as another reminder. We don’t always have to get it right the first time. We can try something, see what happens, undo it if necessary, learn from it and take another approach.
Thank you, Bekah Atkinson, for such a memorable way of looking at something we use every day, and a special shout-out to WISER for bringing together professionals who care deeply about helping others learn, grow and thrive.
So I’ll leave you with this question:
Which key do you need most right now: SPACE, ENTER, SHIFT, DELETE, ESC, CTRL, TAB, PAUSE, or maybe even UNDO?
If this sparked an idea for you, I’d love to hear it. And if you’d like help exploring how technology might make something easier, or want to collaborate, please reach out.
Take care,
Joan