Digital fatigue is a big deal, and many of us are victims of it. Our lives today revolve around systems and mobile phones. And with remote working, this trend has just accelerated even more. To the extent that office work, meetings, marriage ceremonies, birthdays, and other celebrations are happening digitally with the help of technology.
Be on holiday or while working, one beep sound from our mobile phone is enough to distract us and divert our attention. We find ourselves working past lunch, dinner, and through the quiet hours of the night with so many social media applications fighting for our attention.
Thus, with all the increased screen time we put up with today, the end of a workday can leave us feeling physically and mentally exhausted and drained, even if we are working from our most comfortable and cozy place, our home. Here are some tips to help you fight digital fatigue and bring back that balance in your life.
To fight digital fatigue and have a semblance of work-life balance, apply these four must-read tips.
Avoid mental exhaustion and regain physical movement by going through these tips.
Avoid Multi-Tasking
No matter how good you are at multi-tasking, it sure can drain you of your energy and, worst of all, affect your work performance and your precious health. To back it up, research also shows that trying to do multiple things at once cuts into performance.
Different types of work require different levels of brain power. Switching between tasks can cost you as much as 40% of your productive time. Also, Stanford researchers found that people who multitask can’t remember things when compared to their peers who focus on one task at a time.
So, the next time you’re on a video call or in a meeting, close any tabs or programs that you think might distract you. For instance, avoid writing an email and attending an online meeting at the same time. Shifting focus leaves room for more errors. Put your phone away and give 100% attention to the task at hand. Remember, one task at a time keeps the digital fatigue and errors at bay!
Be Conscious of Your Screen Time
Mobile phones, tablets, desktops, and laptops have become part and parcel of our lives. At work, we spend a great deal of time staring at our systems, and off work, we find ourselves checking our mobile phones. Therefore, we give our poor eyes no rest from screen time at all.
However, this can be easily avoided by hiding yourself from view. Still, onscreen distractions go far beyond yourself. You may be surprised to learn that on video, you not only focus on other people’s faces but on their backgrounds, as well. Thus, to fight digital fatigue, encourage your employees to use subtle and plain backgrounds with as few distractions as possible.
Also, keep a tab on what tired you the most. Is it video calls, texting on mobile phones, or having to look at never-ending Excel sheets? Depending on your assessment, take corrective measures to fight digital fatigue and protect your sanity! Maybe you can limit yourself to responding to a certain number of texts per day, take a 10-minute break when you feel overwhelmed looking at the system for a long time, or turn off your mobile phone for an hour or so in a day! Doing whatever you feel will help you fight this digital fatigue.
Don’t Be a Chair Zombie, Move a Little
Take mini breaks from staring at your systems. And use this break to see some plants or take a power nap. The idea is to give rest to your eyes, and using social media or checking your mobile phones is the exact opposite of resting. Make it a point to turn away from your computer for a few seconds every now and then.
Most importantly, move around. Don’t sit glued to your chairs, your systems, and your mobile phones. For days when you can’t avoid back-to-back calls, request short breaks in between. And use this break to engage in a small walk or even some stretches.
Listen to Your Body and Look After Yourself
We find ourselves in an endless parade of online meetings, video calls, work, and email responses. Too much bouncing back and forth between tasks can lead to mental fatigue and anxiety. Also, many of us skip meals and have become prey to poor eating habits. All these are indeed taking a toll on our physical and mental health.
Remember, physical discomfort can translate into emotional and mental discomfort. So, listen to your body and be supportive of what it needs. Eat when you feel hungry, and rest when you feel exhausted. Exercise daily, eat right, and make sure to spend adequate time with your family. There is no stress buster like spending time with your loved ones!
In other words, draw a boundary between personal and work time and respect it. Self-care is also very important. Practice deep breathing and do things that you enjoy the most, the ones you know will surely uplift your mood. Take a digital holiday if need be!
Conclusion: Put a Stop to Digital Fatigue
The 9 to 6 pm work routine has almost faded away! Also, the way we engage with friends, do our work, and celebrate things have changed radically. It is a fact that things are going to remain that way for the foreseeable future. This means there are greater chances of us facing digital fatigue.
Therefore, it’s important you fight digital fatigue before it fights you and tears you apart. To help you on this journey, we have listed a few tips.
