“Hey, Trish! Do you have any tips for using AirPods? I just got them, and I’m wondering if there’s a right way to use them.”
Hi there, Ask Trish readers! Happy October! I don’t know about you, but for me…it’s starting to look like fall. (For those of you folks in the Southern Hemisphere, I hope you’re enjoying a lovely start to spring.) I love fall – and Halloween – so I’m thrilled! And of course, I’m particularly excited to share some awesome Ask Trish content with y’all this month.
Thank you so much to this week’s question-er for the very relatable question! So-called “ear technology” like AirPods, other wireless earbuds, headphones, and more have become super popular nowadays. Just the other day, I was walking down the street when I realized…literally every person around me had their AirPods in! It does make you wonder: how can we do this whole ear technology thing “right”? Is there an etiquette to ear technology? I would argue that there isn’t a “right” way to use ear technology per se, but there’s definitely some etiquette that we can all implement…and in this week’s (very brief) post, I’m going to share exactly what those practices are. To the question-er: I hope that these suggestions help you make the most of your new AirPods…in a way that you feel good about!
Sound like a plan? Let’s dive in!
When using your ear technology, I’d suggest…
- Not blasting music or a podcast at full volume…for so many reasons. First, it’s not great for your ears. I’ve made this mistake before…and the throbbing and pain that I felt afterwards was awful. Moreover, when you’re wearing ear technology, it can be difficult to gauge just how loud that music you’re listening to is…which means that you can’t hear it bothering/distracting everyone around you. For your sake, and for everyone else’s, try a lower volume. You’ll thank yourself, trust me.
- Cleaning your ear technology…This might sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how few people do this. But just think about it…those things are in your ears all the time. Cleaning them off (no fancy cleaning required!) can be a great way to ensure that your (let’s be honest, very expensive) ear technology doesn’t end up covered in earwax and stains…and doesn’t inadvertently cause an infection/anything of that sort. This takes just a few seconds to do…and I highly recommend it!
- Taking your ear technology out when you’re speaking to others. Why? First, because, depending on the circumstances, the person you’re speaking to might not know if you’re speaking to them or if, in fact, you’re on a call with someone else. Minimize confusion by taking your ear technology out.
In addition, when you’ve got your ear technology in, you’re implicitly signaling to others that you’re doing your own thing, that you’re not down to chat. If that’s how you’re feeling – maybe you’re studying, and you want to be left alone! – fair enough. But leave your ear technology in too much, and you might find yourself missing out on a lot of small but meaningful interactions. Your music will always be there…don’t forget to engage with the world around you, too.
- Not wearing your ear technology all of the time. See Tip #1 for what can go wrong…and see tip #3 for what you’ll be missing out on.
- Remaining aware of your surroundings. Particularly with ear technology, it’s easy to get lost in what you’re listening to…but if you’re out and about, that might mean that you’re a little less aware when someone trips to swipe your wallet #yikes. To ensure that that doesn’t happen, when you’ve got your ear technology in, try to be as conscious as you can of your surroundings. Indicate/make it clear that you’re paying attention. Some folks do this by leaving just one wireless earbud in – so they’ve got a spare ear with which to remain tuned into the world around them.
- Regularly charging your ear technology. There’s nothing worse than going to grab your ear technology…and realizing that it’s dead. Make charging your ear technology a regular part of your schedule, just like charging your phone. Bring any charging technology with you, wherever you go!
I hope that at least some (if not all!) of these tips resonate with you. Let me know if/how they’re helpful in the comments. I hope you enjoy your ear technology – in the way that’s best for you!
Have a great week,
Trish