Phones Down

Why we need to put our phones away some of the time.

As we head into the weekend, I wanted to share my recent reflections on the encroachment of work on personal time via the devices we all carry with us constantly: our phones.

Because our phones have become so much more than devices for just calls, I carry my phone with me nearly 100% of my waking hours. Phones create, in a single word, opportunity. They allow for unbridled connection, productivity, learning, and much more.

But they're a double-edged sword.

The pings of messaging platforms can become a constant - ever-increasing as we continue to work more flexibly and more asynchronously. The notification count on email platforms seems to move only upward - and the only way to stay on top is through constant vigilance and response. The ability to add, edit, and review cloud-based documents makes anywhere you are an office.

So how do we harness the opportunity that phones create while fighting against the ever-constant encroachment of work on personal time?

For me, it's been as simple as applying the old mantra "out of sight, out of mind".

I recently built a "phone box" that sits on the coffee table where I gather with family and friends.

The simple act of removing my phone from my pocket and putting it in a closed box has lessened my propensity to check my notifications, emails, and the like. Importantly, my phone is still within reach for when I need it as a tool (to capitalize on the opportunity these devices offer).

This "phone box" has led to an increase in being present, an increase in intentional focus on those around me, and a defense against the always-on pull.

Now, as always, there will be times that we'll be on call. That's bound to happen when we're passionate about the work we do. This is not an invitation to shirk our responsibilities - but a prompt to investigate your own level of encroachment via your phone.

So the question is: How do you best manage the double-edged nature of the devices we carry?

Thanks for spending time with me in my workshop,

Eric