More on Disconnecting

Millennials & Time Management

They Jointly Agree to Disconnect

A few weeks ago, I reported on “stacking,” a new thing where a group of friends meeting at a restaurant agree to stack their smart phones in the center of the dining table. The first person to reach for their phone during the meal must pick-up the entire table’s tab.

Since then, I’ve talked to some people who reported they couldn’t imagine participating disconnecting throughout the length of an entire meal. They feel the need remain digitally linked non-stop even if it causes a certain amount of tension. Others, including Anil Dash, a writer and entrepreneur, report they’ve experienced the “Joy of Missing Out” aka JOMO.

This past Sunday, Jenna Wortham wrote about JOMO in the New York Times. In “Turn Off the Phone,” (08//26/12, Business, pg.3), she described how a forced break from social media helped her reclaim a sense of serenity. She further described people who have put themselves on a “screen diet,” a period during the day when they “go screenless, either by going for a run and leaving [their] phone at home, or by stashing it in a drawer during dinner or while hanging out with friends.”

Me? When I need to manage my time, I consistently find that the time I spend away from social media is among my most productive. After I turn my BlackBerry off, I can move mountains . . . literally.

What Do You Need to Know?

If you are starting work as an intern, summer associate or new hire, try to disconnect a few times each day.
 

Related Things You Need to Know

List your work; Work your list

Professionals who maintain a running list of the commitments that they have made to others and who consciously work those lists experience less stress.  They know that they can’t do everything.  So, they focus their efforts on their most important tasks and address less important tasks when time permits. 

Managing Time with Style

To manage your time most effectively, use tools and techniques appropriate for your behavioral style preference.

Time for a Digital Diet

Limiting the amount of time you spend on email will signicantly improve your productivity. Here's why accomplishing that feat can be so difficult and some strategies that you can employ in order to succeed.

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