As a new mom, entrepreneur and wife, I’ve looked for the most efficient way to get things done. Technology seems to have an answer for almost everything. “There’s  an app for that, right?”

Well, here’s why I believe the sharing economy is the new norm and why everyone needs to get on board:

First, we’ve become more and more accustomed to using technology to solve our problems. So what’s the next step? Well, the sharing economy isn’t just about the technology to solve your problem, but the people who can, instantly.

Sharing platforms like Lyft, TaskRabbit, DesksNear.Me and GetAround can satisfy our needs with quick solutions. Using these tools has freed me to be involved with my business, spend more time with my child and earn some extra money all at once. I can assign projects on TaskRabbit, work out of a remote desk space using DesksNear.Me, all while renting my car on GetAround when I’m not using it. I end up using what’s available to make my life and the lives of those around me - better. But I’m not just interacting with a computer. I’m interacting with real people. And people are the heart of the sharing economy.

The sharing economy uses the basic concept of “needs” and “haves,” bringing the concept of “needing” one another to the forefront, connecting people that would have never been connected. Human interaction is being digitally reintroduced in a much more powerful way—connecting a family from Ireland to an art designer in San Francisco who shares their home on the weekends.

The mindset of  our mainstream culture is shifting to thinking that used items aren’t so bad after all, whether it’s vintage fashion, furniture, decor, apartments, cars or experiences. See the vintage craze on Pinterest. Used items have a story and a history - much like people do.

Access to quality used items intertwined with human interaction results in sharing and when I use these tools,  I feel good. I not only feel like I’m giving back by sharing my car, but I also feel like I’m doing something for the environment.

From Mackelmore’s “Thriftshop” song - to every wedding I’ve been to this year having a vintage touch, our mainstream culture is evolving to value what already exists, instead of producing more. But, the sharing economy is not new and it’s not just a trend—it’s been around forever, it’s just gone global, literally.

Companies like Airbnb, DesksNear.Me, BoatBound and TaskRabbit have united people all over the world to share with one another. Instead of bringing your neighbor a “cup of sugar,” people are housesharing and renting desks in every major city worldwide. Sure, it can seem daunting to get started, but once you start sharing, you’ll find that it’s addicting.

Bottom line:

The sharing economy connects me to what I need when I need it but also introduces me to what I can provide others. This is definitely my new norm.

Will you let it become yours?