I don’t know why I am writing this. But I have realised Facebook is kind of controlling my life. Facebook like everything else, it is very good, if utilised properly, but if used wrongly, it will screw your life.

Think of using a kitchen knife to cut yourself instead of the onion. Similarly, careless use of Face book will mess your life.

Here is how to make Face book your servant.

1. Login to Facebook at specific times. Set clear times when to login to Facebook. Let say when you are extremely tired and you cannot do anything else. During lunch break or after work would be the best times.

2. Action to friends’ statuses immediately. If you feel a status of your friend warrants response, respond immediately. Avoid reading and re-reading all the statuses to respond.

3. Do not take all facebook comments seriously. Avoid losing sleep discussing how your friend/s responded badly to your status. Imagine if I changed my relationship status to single today. This one will keep tongues waging. I could have been joking or just playing around.

4. Avoid Facebooking in office. To increase your productivity avoid Facebook in the office. I am sure your boss never sends any important communication through Facebook. See point No. 1 above.

5. Treat Facebook to what it is. Facebook should not be used as a substitute to normal person-person interaction. We are humans. Personal touch is essential. If you are shy, acknowledge  it.  Shyness is a disease and should be tackled.

6. To-do list is important than Facebook. You earn your living  for working on your job. Prioritise company tasks over Facebook statuses.

7. Switch off. If you access Facebook through the phone, switch it off until you finish the task at hand. If possible restrain from Facebooking while in bed, in class, at dinner time, during breakfast or in a meeting.

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Technology seems to be taking us at supersonic speed. At this speed most of us cannot cope.

One of the advances in the wish-list of technology is paperless office/life.

The other day, I was shocked to realise how my life is gearing towards paperlessness. I don’t think there is such a word (paperlessness), but you understand what I mean.

During my first flight, I carried a hard manila paper tickets. It is no longer the case. I just go the airport with my booking code saved in my mobile phone and all is sorted.

You remember school report cards. They are no longer tenable. Pupils log to their school website with a password and few clicks they get there marks and school report.

In high school we used to write those steamy love letters. They are no longer fashionable. Two clicks on your computer or mobile phone you send an instant hot message to him or her. If you feel short message will not deliver all the details, you send an email and follow it with a sms to alert them to check the email.

I used to receive bank statements through post office. I now check them online or on the phone.

If you deal with stock market, it is the same story. Even those who trade in Nairobi Stock exchange, they can get updates of their statements through email.

One evening I was in Donholm, Nairobi at 10pm. A relative who is abroad was stuck without money and he was in dire need. I went to a cybercafé in a petrol station there and transferred money to him over the internet. This took less than 10 min. Few years ago, this was not possible. Now it is even faster with M-pesa and internet at home

I top-up my phone seamless from my bank account. I press few buttons and my phone is credited. This is also possible over the internet.

The electricity provider forced me to sign documents so that he can deduct bills straight from my account. Now, he doesn’t send me those paper bills. With Kenya Powerless and Loss Co, you just send an sms.

I have a Sony reader which is 160g in weight and can carry up to 13000 e-books. I am a ferocious reader, but I don’t think I will buy 13000 books in my lifetime.

Long gone are the days that you carried a small book called phone book. If you were a bit organised, you had a list of your contacts in an alphabetical order. If you were like me, phone numbers were written anywhere even at the edge of a newspaper and matchbox. Nowadays, you have all your contacts in your mobile phone phonebook. For backup, you can either transfer all of them to a computer or in a memory card. No writing them.

Organiser is a standard application of all phones nowadays. Instead of buying those paper organisers, maximise on this utility.

It’s nostalgic when I remember the paper calendars that we used to hang on the wall. Every sitting room had one. Today, it is possible that you checked your next birthday on your phone.

Do you still write to-do list down. You are not very behind, but you can do better by listing them on OUTLOOK express or on your phone. If they are on your phone you are guaranteed to view them before you sleep.

During father’s day this year, I was scanning printed photos of my late dad. It took me a lot of time. I wish I had taken them with my phone or digital camera. This way, my work would be much easier.

I believe companies that used to make photo albums are closing down. Most of my friends nowadays capture and store their memorable moments on the phone, internet or computers.

I would like to hear your experiences of paperless life.

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