A day in the life : Day 431

This week, I ran into a small communication issue that pushed me to try a trend I’d been seeing more often — using voice notes instead of long messages. People online claim it saves time and avoids misunderstandings. After a confusing text exchange at work, where tone clearly got lost, I thought it was worth testing.

The problem started with a short message I sent that sounded fine in my head but came across as abrupt on screen. It wasn’t meant that way, but once the misunderstanding settled in, the conversation slowed down and felt awkward. Fixing it took longer than the original task itself. That’s when I tried switching to a quick voice note.

The response was immediate and warmer. Hearing tone made a difference. But it wasn’t perfect. On another occasion, I rambled more than necessary and realized voice notes can easily turn into mini monologues if you’re not careful. So I had to adjust — short, clear messages only, no thinking out loud.

The weather’s been slightly humid lately, which always makes me a bit less patient than usual. I’ve noticed heavier meals don’t help either, so I’ve been keeping lunches lighter and drinking more water. Small changes, but they make communication easier when energy isn’t crashing mid-day.

By the end of the week, I wasn’t fully converted. Voice notes work well for clarity and tone, but not for everything. Some things still need to be written, especially when details matter.

What this trend reminded me is that tools don’t fix communication — awareness does. Whether it’s text or voice, the goal is the same: be clear, be respectful, and don’t rush. Trends come and go, but the basics stay. Sometimes all you need is the right format at the right moment, not a complete change in how you work.