Try something new and refresh your technology habits

Are you using the Internet as if it's still the year 2000? If you answered yes, you've got some catching up to do. Technology has come a long way in the last 13 years; new shortcuts, alternative products and simple tools available today can help you accomplish tasks faster - saving you time and increasing your efficiency online.

Many people don't realize this, but old tech habits can actually create more work for you. There is no better time than the present to refresh your technology habits and try something new.  The following tips can help motivate you to update the way you use technology.

* Upgrade your search skills. Not every search engine is created equal, with some offering different features and new ways of finding information.

* Update the way you get your news. Are you still reading multiple sites every morning, scrolling through each one to find news that is relevant to you? If so, it may be time to ditch the grueling routine and give yourself a technology upgrade. An overwhelming 93 percent of people say they're open to trying new things occasionally or frequently, survey results found. So tomorrow, try something new and subscribe to an RSS feed to quickly identify the news you care about most without having to sort through all the rest. Whether it's attending a new fitness class, tasting exotic cuisine or trying a new search engine, change can be exciting and add an element of spontaneity to your life. Now is the perfect time to take a risk, break out of your comfort zone and try something new - you might just surprise yourself.

* Refresh your online password(s). Password protection is an important, but often annoying, part of our daily lives. With 12 percent of men saying they would rather sit in traffic than try something new, it's no surprise many people still use old passwords and the common "1234." In order to break the bad habit, create a different password for all of your online accounts and store them in a password manager tool. These tools can even help you create passwords that are nearly impossible to crack. Taking a few minutes to try something new can lead to efficiency and better process.

By upgrading your Internet habits and trying something new, you may discover happiness and enjoyment you never knew possible - and learn a few new things along the way.

(BPT)