NAFE NEWS & NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER

5 Tips
5 Tips on How to Unplug and Breathe Again
By Paula Damiano – Editor, NAFE NEWS & NOTESElectronics rule our lives. Mostly that’s a good thing. The resultant increased productivity and time savings make work and life so much easier. But better connectivity often means always connected – and that’s a problem. Half of American workers report doing some work in their free time to meet job demands. And according to the Pew Research Center, 84% of cell phone users claim they couldn’t go a single day without their device.

You know you should take a break. But why – and more importantly, how?
1 It’s good for your mental health. The Huffington Post suggests an occasional “digital diet” to improve your life by spending that digital-free time “focusing on your relationships and activities you enjoy.” And who doesn’t want a better life?
2 TMI. Social media often offers too much drama about other people’s lives, whether they’re celebrities, politicians, or personal friends. The Be Free Project recommends a social media detox every now and again. Do you really need to know that much about that many?
3 Reacquainting with nature. Whether it’s a hiking trail in the Rockies or a path in a city park, being around green, living things and really seeing them is good for you on many levels. The air is cleaner and the beauty is inspiring. Like The Wilderness Society says, “There is no wi-fi in the forest – but you will find a better connection.”
4 Other things to do. According to Motivation Grid: “The average American spends 3.2 hours per day on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat.” That’s 1,168 hours a year. Think what else you could do with that time! Write a book (remember books?), compose a sonata, learn a foreign language… If you’re not reaching your goals or can’t seem to get anything done, just remember: “It’s hard to do that if you’re constantly zoning out on social media and never working on improving your own life.”
5 Schedule no-electronics time. Make an appointment with yourself. Set a specific time and duration (an hour, maybe) for using electronics at night at home. It’s equally important when you’re on vacation – allow yourself 30 minutes a day for contact. Then turn everything off. According to “How to Unplug and Enjoy” by Marriott’s SPGWeekends.com ,“One uninterrupted half-hour is far less distracting than checking the web every 10 minutes.”

Author Anne Lamott makes this observation: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

Paula Damiano writes and edits corporate newsletters, executive profiles, marketing materials, website text, and other business applications that require words. Contact her here: pauladamiano@hotmail.com.

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