Can we get smarter with the devices we always have with us? And, do workplaces have the responsibility to help their employees become more intentional with the technology they use?
CEO of the Digital Wellness Institute, Amy Blankson, was a guest on the Keep it Simple Podcast powered by TalentLMS. During the conversation Amy shares simple strategies that can make our tech habits more deliberate and mindful. From balancing our daily work and personal life with our screen time to the apps and tools that can help us regain focus in a world of gratuitous scrolling.
Listen to Reclaiming Control of Our Digital Lives with Amy Blankson.
Key Takeaways:
-
Being unhappy with technology isn’t due to the devices themselves. But it’s all about how we use them. We’re responsible for this, and it’s on us to find the power to change our habits for the better. Even in the face of tech and advertising companies’ attempts to capture our attention. Rather than going cold turkey, setting “guardrails” helps guide a more sustainable approach to our digital lives.
-
To adjust app usage to align with one’s values involves making small, manageable changes rather than drastic ones. This helps in understanding the opportunity cost of excessive app usage and encourages more mindful use of tech.
-
The overwhelming amount of information people process has drastically increased over decades. And it pushes individuals’ capabilities to the limit. Highly responsible people often overwork themselves by quickly responding to every email and leaving no task unfinished. Even if this means working late and starting early the next day. This intense effort to excel and achieve goals leads to burnout in the workplace.
-
Workplace strategies for wellbeing are similar to personal ones. But employer involvement there is necessary. Leaders are those who set the work culture. For instance, if a leader emails at midnight expecting a response, they create a culture of overwork. But a leader who encourages downtime sets a healthier precedent. Leader’s actions are the most important in shaping non-toxic workplace cultures.
-
Organizations should identify areas for improvement to boost employee wellbeing and productivity. Implementing communication charters helps teams align on how to use different technologies for various types of communication. Or provide micro-course training to promote digital wellness.
This post originated from TalentLMS.
Amy Blankson is the Co-founder and CEO of the Digital Wellness Institute and the bestselling author of The Future of Happiness. A graduate of Harvard and the Yale School of Management, she’s the only person to receive a Point of Light award from two US Presidents.Amy is also a member of the UN Global Happiness Council, a Fellow of the World Innovation Organization, a featured professor in Oprah’s happiness e-course, and a regular contributor to Forbes. Her current work focuses on how to cultivate happiness and well-being in the digital era.
