Technology. We can’t live without it. Whatever did we do in the age before cell phones, when we were running 15 minutes late for a lunch date? (Answer: The person waited impatiently as the clock kept ticking, and we apologized profusely upon arrival.) But those times seem like the dark ages now. The fact of the matter is, we don’t do such a great job living with technology either. Why? Because we’re all reachable, all the time.
You’ve been there. You’re at the wedding of one of your best friends, and while everyone is finding his or her seat in that magic moment between the cocktail hour and dinner, you’re responding to a few of those emails taunting you from your inbox. Or how about in the morning? Your cell phone is now your alarm clock. Instead of hitting the alarm and reaching across the bed to give your husband or wife a gentle loving kiss or hug, you’re reaching tenderly for your phone that begs to caress you with urgent notifications of waiting voicemails, texts and emails.
We’re slowly but surely creating a generation of people who fail to communicate like human beings, to genuinely invest themselves in listening, receiving and responding. We’re documenting every second of our lives with status updates and photos, rather than just enjoying the experience of the moment. So how can we shift the consciousness to a more authentic and happier place, where we don’t feel so imprisoned and suffocated by the very tools that aim to make our lives easier? Andrew K. Przybylski and Netta Weinstein of University of Essex conducted a set of studies, “Can you connect with me now? How the presence of mobile communication technology influences face-to-face conversation quality” that showed phones can hurt our close relationships. Simply having a phone in visible or close proximity to our bodies, without even checking it, can be detrimental to attempts at interpersonal connection.
Encourage your team to take the technology challenge for one week. Ask your employees to set a non-phone alarm to wake up in the morning. Then ask them not to listen to their voicemails, or check their work emails anytime other than during official work hours. And then ask them to report back. For those who are super gung-ho and ambitious, consider encouraging your team also to adopt one new and better habit in relationship to their cell phones. Examples might include keeping the phone off the dinner table or bar, putting the notifications on vibrate or silent, or no texting while walking (or driving, for that matter (hopefully we get to the point where that one goes without saying.)
The work got done before cell phones. Why wouldn’t it continue to get done now? Time and space to breathe and take in the world and people around us are severely underrated. Create and foster an environment that gives your team permission to relax a few notches. You may just be surprised at the high level of productivity, efficiency, happiness and morale you get in return.
Contact Shannon at sha@dashawellness.com to book your custom-tailored health event at your company today. DASHA® is a wellness lifestyle brand and Manhattan-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. DASHA®’s corporate health initiative is to educate, motivate, reward and inspire employees to instill better health habits and make educated decisions. DASHA® understands that if your employees are able to stand tall, feel healthy and confident, they will be better people and can contribute more productively to their work environment. DASHA®’s motto is “enhance your well-being.”
