Tweak Your Week: Devices Down
Tips, tricks and tweaks to help founders each week. You’ll be surprised what a difference these tiny experiments can make.
Good morning Upsiders!
Now, the irony of us using a tech platform to suggest you ditch tech for a bit is not lost on us, but we’re not suggesting an absolute veto on all things digital here.
No, this week your tweak consists of a short, scheduled tech break every day, where you disconnect from your laptops, mobiles, and smart watches for at least 60 minutes.
That’s no emails, no phone calls, no digital spreadsheets, no scrolling through LinkedIn, and no BeReal snaps for a scheduled period every day.
What’s the point of that? we hear you ask…
Well, it turns out that deliberately disconnecting from screens and digital technology can increase our present-moment awareness, decrease stress, improve our sleep, improve our relationships with the real people around us, and increase productivity and learning.
And not only that, but by deliberately going cold-turkey on tech for an hour a day, you will be shaping a new, healthy habit that will endure beyond a single week and give you more time to be intentional, mindful, and more relaxed.
Here’s how:
Choose a realistic time to go tech free. Perhaps first thing in the morning or last thing at night, before the onslaught of the day makes it impossible for you to switch off.
Switch off your computer and your mobile devices and leave them in a specific place (this will reduce any “oh no, where is my phone/watch/laptop?” anxiety).
Find an egg-timer and set it to 60 minutes, or take note of the time on an old-fashioned clock and note down when 60 minutes will be up.
Go and be tech-free for an hour. Walk, talk, write stuff down, read - your activities can still be work-related, it’s not about stopping work, but shifting to analog for an hour.
This might prove a little difficult at first, but with practice, you’ll find it much easier and might even want to extend your tech-free time!
Notice a difference?
Tell us how you go. Share your experiences - ‘mazing or meh - with the Upside community.
We’re all a work in progress.
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