I frequently teach seminars on the behavioral impact of technology reliance. Shared below are a list of suggestions on what to know and do. I hope they help.
For more information or to schedule a seminar for your company or organization, feel free to drop me a note.
Tips for Managing the Impact of Technology
- Carve out uninterrupted think time. Your phone is not a source of oxygen.
- Recognize the importance of “think time,” and protect it each day.
- Start small if you have to. Yondr phone pouches may help.
- Avoid the reflexive loop, especially when it comes to daily sources of news. The reflexive loop is a predictable set of repetitious behaviors that is part of daily and life routine. Most of us rely on a thin number of news sources, which means we are exposed to their unique biases. Bust up your routine and embrace multiple, different perspectives.
- Manage the Worry Circle so you can juggle your three heads smartly. The Worry Circle is the imaginary bubble in the mind that houses everything we fret about. Own the things you can control and block out the things you cannot. Influence issues are the third type of Worry Circle occupant, and these are comprised of issues that are part controllable and part that are not. Separate the two components: Own what you can control and get rid of the rest. Smart Worry Circle management enables the head to stay free of unnecessary, stress-creating clutter.
Three-headed juggling refers to how each of us values certain behaviors and responses. We all go through life juggling how we want to appear to others, how we do appear to others, and who we really are. Image projection desires are not always reacted to by others the way we wish, but we cannot control what other people do, think, or say. Personal power comes from the third head: Who we really are. Find the best you, own it, protect it, be proud of it, and never stray too far from it. - Embrace time choice decision-making:
- Are you Wasting time, Spending time, Investing time, or Cherishing time?
- Invest in reading three-dimensional things that make you happy.
- Recognize and embrace Cherish moments, and create them in the lives of others.
- Minimize commercial radio, TV, and trolling the Internet. Nine hours of a 16-hour waking day tethered to technology chews up a whole lot of life.
- Are you Wasting time, Spending time, Investing time, or Cherishing time?
- Stay acutely aware of interactions that cause positive and negative emotional reactions, especially during digital engagements.
- When you recognize the What, and understand the Why, you minimize emotional vulnerability. When something lands on you in a negative way, recognize it. Make choices that protect your mind from such invasions.
- Social media is a negative instigator. Don’t get sucked into any activity — social media or otherwise — that fills your head with negative emotional reactions.
- Coach others you care about. Be significant in the lives of others and when you coach, always explain the “why.”
In closing, it is important to take action in life to thwart sources of stinkin’ thinkin’.
I am always happy to help people dealing with challenges caused by an overt reliance on digital interactions. Feel free to reach out. I will always make the time to help.
Best always,