The Secret to Keeping Up With Technology Isn’t Knowing Everything
Jennifer Stewart is a Technology and Productivity Trainer and owner of Gateway Productivity, known for patiently helping clients overcome technology frustration and work more efficiently. She has trained individuals and businesses since 2011 and creates accessible learning content through her “Tuesday Tech Training” video series on YouTube.
Have you ever finally figured out how to use a piece of software, only to open it one morning and discover that everything has moved? Or maybe you’ve sat in a meeting where people casually tossed around terms like artificial intelligence (AI), automation, cloud computing, and cybersecurity while you quietly wondered when everyone else learned this stuff. If so, you’re definitely not alone.
Technology changes quickly, and keeping up can sometimes feel like one more thing on an already crowded list of tasks. There’s always a new app to try, an update to install, a feature to learn, or a new technology everyone suddenly seems to be talking about.
Here’s the good news. Keeping up with technology doesn’t mean keeping up with everything. You don’t need to become an information technology (IT) professional or chase every new trend. You simply need a way to decide what’s worth learning, build confidence as you go, and stay curious enough to adapt when something changes.
Technology literacy is becoming an everyday skill
Technology is no longer something reserved for people who work in IT. Whether you’re managing projects, communicating with coworkers, running a small business, organizing your household, or simply trying to get through your inbox, digital tools are woven into everyday life. That isn’t expected to slow down.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, which draws on input from more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies, found that 60% of employers expect broader digital access to transform their businesses by 2030. The report also identifies AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy as the three areas where demand for technology skills is growing fastest.
That doesn’t mean everyone needs to learn how to code. It means becoming comfortable enough with technology to adapt as the tools around us change.
Stop trying to learn everything
One of the fastest ways to feel behind with technology is to look at everything you could learn. Artificial intelligence. Microsoft 365. Automation. Cybersecurity. Cloud storage. New smartphones. Collaboration tools. Productivity apps. Smart devices.
It’s a lot. So don’t start there. Instead, ask yourself, “What would make my life or work easier right now?”
Maybe you’re constantly searching for files and need a better organization system. Maybe your team uses Microsoft Teams, but you know you’re only scratching the surface. Maybe you’re curious about Copilot or another AI tool because you’ve heard it could save you time.
Learn one useful thing, put it into practice, and then build from there. Keeping up with technology is much easier when you’re solving actual problems instead of trying to absorb every new trend.
Learn the skill, not just the steps
We’ve all been there. Someone shows you exactly where to click, you write down the instructions, and everything works beautifully. Then the software gets an update. Suddenly, the button isn’t where it used to be, the menu looks different, and your carefully written instructions aren’t much help.
That’s why one of the most valuable technology skills isn’t memorization. It’s adaptability. Instead of just memorizing which buttons to press, try to understand what you’re asking the technology to accomplish. If a button moves, you can find it again. Knowing why you’re doing something is often far more useful than memorizing where to click.
Practice learning just in time
Remember sitting through a software training session where you learned 20 features, thought several of them were fantastic, and then promptly forgot most of them? There’s a reason learning by doing can feel different. Technology makes more sense when you have an immediate reason to use it. Rather than trying to learn everything a program can do, focus on what you need today.
Need to collaborate on a document with a coworker? Learn about coauthoring. Repeating the same manual process every week? Explore whether automation could simplify it.
Want help brainstorming an article or organizing a long list of ideas? Experiment with an AI assistant. Can’t ever find your notes? Spend your learning time developing a better system in something like Microsoft OneNote.
When technology solves a real problem, the learning has context. You’re not learning a feature just because it exists. You’re learning it because it can help you accomplish something.
Get comfortable saying, “I don’t know how to do that yet”
A surprisingly large part of becoming more confident with technology is becoming comfortable with not knowing. Nobody knows every piece of software. Nobody understands every new technology.
Even experienced technology professionals regularly encounter tools they’ve never used before. The difference is often the willingness to experiment.
So replace “I’m terrible with technology” with “I haven’t learned how to do that yet.” Then start exploring. Create a test file. Try a feature. Look at the settings. Follow a reputable tutorial. Ask someone to show you. You don’t have to understand an entire program before you can become comfortable using one useful part of it.
Don’t confuse “new” with “necessary”
Just because a new tool exists doesn’t mean you need it. That’s particularly important now because we’re surrounded by recommendations for new applications, AI tools, productivity systems, devices, and platforms promising to change the way we work.
Before adopting something new, ask yourself these questions.
What problem would this solve?
Do I already have a tool that does this?
Would I use it regularly?
Will learning it save me more time than it costs me?
Does it fit into the way I already work?
Sometimes a new tool genuinely improves the way you work. Other times, it simply gives you another password to remember. Being comfortable with technology isn’t about having the newest tools. It’s about choosing the right tools.
AI is worth learning, but start small
Artificial intelligence is probably the clearest example of how quickly technology can change. In a relatively short period, AI has become one of the biggest topics of conversation about technology in the workplace. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, 86% of surveyed employers expect AI and technologies that process information to transform their businesses by 2030.
If you’re a beginner, that doesn’t mean you need to understand everything about artificial intelligence. Start with one practical use. You might use an AI assistant to brainstorm ideas, reorganize information you’ve written, create questions for a meeting, or help you think through the first draft of a project. Then experiment with another task.
As with any technology, it’s also important to review the output rather than assuming it’s automatically correct. The goal isn’t to become an AI expert. It’s to learn enough to understand where it can be useful to you.
Create a small learning habit
You don’t have to dedicate hours every week to technology training. Instead, make continuous learning part of your routine.
Perhaps once a week, you spend a little time exploring one feature you’ve been curious about. Watch an official tutorial. Attend a webinar. Read an article from a reliable source. Try something new in an application you already use.
Keep a running list called “Things I want to learn.” When someone mentions a feature you’re unfamiliar with, add it to the list rather than stopping everything to research it immediately.
Over time, those small learning moments add up. More importantly, they keep technology from feeling like one enormous subject you’re perpetually behind on.
Choose reliable sources for technology information
One challenge with trying to keep up with technology is figuring out who to listen to. A quick online search can produce thousands of tutorials, videos, blogs, and opinions. Some are excellent. Others are outdated before you find them.
When you’re learning something new, start with authoritative resources whenever possible. If you’re learning Microsoft 365, for example, Microsoft’s own documentation and training resources are a logical starting point. If you’re learning software from another provider, check that company’s official support and learning resources before digging through random tutorials.
You can expand from there as you become more familiar with the subject. Don’t overlook the people around you. A coworker, consultant, trainer, or friend who regularly uses the technology may be able to show you in a few minutes what would have taken you an hour to figure out alone. There’s no bonus prize for struggling through it yourself.
You don’t have to keep up with everything to keep moving forward
Technology isn’t going to stop changing. There will always be another update, another tool, another feature, and another acronym everyone suddenly seems to know.
The answer isn’t to run faster to catch all of it. It’s to become more comfortable with learning. Be curious. Ask questions. Experiment. Learn to use a tool when it solves a genuine problem. Give yourself permission not to know everything.
Most importantly, stop measuring your technology skills by what other people seem to know. Being “good with technology” doesn’t mean you know every program or understand every new trend. It means you’re confident that when you need to learn something, you can. That’s a skill that won’t become outdated.
Take the next step
If technology sometimes leaves you feeling like you’re constantly trying to catch up, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. The right training and guidance can help you focus on the technology that actually matters to your work, your goals, and the way you want to spend your time.
Ready to build your confidence with technology without feeling overwhelmed by every new tool and trend? Schedule a consultation today for help identifying practical technology solutions, developing stronger digital skills, and finding more efficient ways to work.
Read more from Jennifer Stewart
Jennifer Stewart, Technology & Productivity Trainer
Jennifer Stewart is a Technology and Productivity Trainer and the owner of Gateway Productivity, dedicated to helping individuals and businesses reduce overwhelm and work more efficiently with their digital tools. Since 2011, she has empowered clients to overcome technology frustration through clear, patient and practical training that creates real “lightbulb” moments. Jennifer is a recognized industry leader, an active member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), and a national speaker who brings both expertise and approachability to every session. Through her popular “Tuesday Tech Training” video series on YouTube, she continues to make technology simple, accessible, and even enjoyable.
