We are all aware of the prowess of technology and how all those little gadgets we love so much are helping us save time and be more productive… but are they really?
While it would be impossible to function in business without being connected, questioning the use and time spent on them could lead to increased productivity. Here too, less is more.
Let’s examine the facts:
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Technology is robbing us of natural darkness, it is now possible to be exposed to intense light day and night. But bright screens overstimulate our brain, maintain it awake and lead to sleeping issues. Recent research shows that even back-lit tablets will decrease the level of melatonin produced and therefore delay sleep time.
Researcher Linda Stone found in 2008 that 80 percent of people appear to have “email apnea”: they hold their breath when an email arrives, which can contribute to stress-related diseases.
AOL 4th annual Email Addiction Survey in July 2008 found that 51 percent check their emails more than 4 times a day. 1/5 do so more than 10 times a day. Since then, AOL hasn’t bothered to do another survey: we are now connected 24/7!
In 2005, research from the University of London showed that texting and emailing throughout the working day can « fog your brain » as much as smoking cannabis, knocking 10 points off your IQ.
After being interrupted in our work (and how often does that happen during the day?), we need up to 25 minutes to recover our full attention and performance level.
Studies show that if you have an electronic device at hand, your maximum focus time is… 3 minutes!
And the list could go on! Nicholas Carr in The Shallows, what the internet is doing to our brain, talks about a web-induced attention-deficit society.
So how can we still benefit from the tools technology offers us without letting it overtake our lives and crash our work performance? Here are a few tips from the experts to get you and your teams started:
- no email checking after-hours – some companies have actually established this as a rule or put it place systems that will not allow you to do it even if you want to!
- disable your email alert on your computer as a minimum; close the email box altogether if you are feeling brave and only check your emails at set times during the day (4 times maximum).
- turn off your mobile phone alerts (do you really need a “ping” each time someone posts a trivial something?) and unless you are expecting a crucial call, disable all sounds when working on something that requires your full attention.
- step away from the screens at regular interval and move, walk around the office, step out for a while, even a short one.
- Don’t arrive in front of your computer or at office without a clear list of priorities. Am I being productive or just active? Inventing things to do to avoid the important?
- If you can deal with an email in 2 minutes max, do it: answer, delete, unsubscribe or delegate. Otherwise: put in a “to read” folder or in an “action” folder, not to be used as a to-do list put to be referred to from your to-do list
And we are just getting started here, look out for more tips next time!
Florence is an international expert in stress and sleep management, a performance coach and sophrology practitioner. She works with executives who need to perform at a high level and face pressures and challenges on an everyday basis.
She teaches them practical tools and strategies to be at their best when they need it most, know how to “switch off” and “on” at will, remain in control, have energy, focus, a clear head and build resilience. With methods similar to those used by Olympians, she helps her clients develop the brain power of a corporate athlete: their mind at its best.
- Florence Parot
- Florence Parot
- Florence Parot
- Florence Parot
