When Technology Lets You Down (and Why That’s Not Always a Bad Thing)

This week, everything ground to a halt. I lost access to my emails, diary, Teams, and a whole host of platforms I usually rely on to get through the day. It was frustrating and chaotic, and I left scrambling to piece things back together.

I couldn’t access meetings, find documents, or respond to anything other than a phone call or text. Even now, my diary is not fully up to date, so if I miss a meeting this week, I promise it is not personal. I am still working through the tech fallout.

We often talk about artificial intelligence as though it might take over our working lives at some point in the future. The truth is, technology already has. Most of us no longer rely on paper diaries or handwritten notes. Everything is stored in inboxes, apps, or shared drives that we assume will always be available.

When that access suddenly disappears, the stress is immediate and overwhelming. I wasn’t calm or reflective. I was irritated, anxious, and very aware of how much I depend on systems working properly. But in between all that panic, something else happened too. Without the constant stream of pings and alerts, I got a few uninterrupted hours of focus. No emails, no sudden diary pop-ups, no distraction disguised as urgency. And weirdly, I got things done.

That kind of space is rare. As a business owner, I am used to keeping up with everything, everywhere, all at once. But this was a reminder that even in chaos, there are moments that make you think. I still keep a paper to-do list. I prefer writing meeting notes by hand. I can switch off the tech if I have to. In a world where everything moves fast, the ability to operate in both digital and analogue spaces is a real advantage.

This week didn’t feel like a win. But looking back, it was a reminder that resilience is not about being calm. It’s about cracking on. It’s about adapting, using the tools you’ve got, and remembering that sometimes, the only thing you really need is a working phone and a clear priority list.

We live in a tech-driven world. But we do not have to let it run the show.

I also want to give a shout out to James at Web4less for diving in and helping me get a temporary fix and the crew at IONUS who were great - thank you so much.