Ideas 4 Success

Can there truly ever be too much of a good thing? When it comes to screen time, the answer is a resounding yes! Digital burnout—the physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that occurs from too much screen time—is real. And it’s causing people to rethink their relationships with devices.

Sixty-one percent of people say they are addicted to their screens. The good news is, they’re not taking it lying down: 53% of Americans say they would like to reduce their device time. Help kickstart the process by supporting a digital detox.

What is a digital detox?

A digital detox is exactly what it sounds like: A period of time where participants intentionally reduce (or even temporarily eliminate) their screen time. Doing so can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and productivity, and even lead to better sleep. That’s good for businesses and employees. Share these tips with your team to kickstart their cleanse.

Encourage a screen time audit

Helping employees develop an awareness of how they interact with devices is a good step toward establishing healthy habits. Encourage employees to check screen time reports so they can better understand which apps they are using most, for how long and when. If there’s a pattern that doesn’t align with their goals, they can concentrate on changing that first. Some first steps may include setting screen time limits for social media apps or disabling notifications during designated times.

Establish guidelines

Your organization can assist employees on their digital detox journey by establishing device usage policies and best practices. Set guidelines around email and messaging response times so employees don’t feel the need to be omnipresent. Encourage employees to disconnect during non-work hours. Lead by example by asking managers to avoid emailing and messaging during non-business hours. If that’s not possible, let employees know that messages will be marked “urgent” if they can’t wait or “not urgent” if an immediate response is unnecessary.

Promote screen time breaks

Many workplaces rely on devices for daily operations, making digital breaks even more important. If possible, ditch the conference call and opt for a walking meeting instead. In lieu of emailing or direct messaging, communications can be delivered to recipients in person. Designate areas of the office, like specific breakrooms, lounges and conference areas, as digital detox zones to help employees unplug. Use floor decals to remind everyone they’re entering a screen-free zone.

Encourage employees to continue their detox at home by establishing set times or areas of their home as device-free. Maybe they adopt a “no phones” rule during dinner. Or designate bedrooms as screen-free zones. The bravest may even choose to forego devices for an entire day. Encourage employees to share their successes and reward those who do with water bottle stickers or can coolers imprinted with fun phrases, like “Disconnect to connect” or “I’m on DND.”

Gamify it

Change can be hard. But adding an element of competition can make it much more fun. Encourage employees to set measurable goals. For example, decrease daily screen time by 25%, spend an hour or less per day on social media or unplug from devices after 7 p.m. Have team members track their progress and reward them for achieving each goal. Allow participants to pick from a variety of tech-free rewards, like an adult coloring book gift set, baking utensil set or vacuum bottle. Up the ante for even more fun: For every goal they achieve, they’re entered in a drawing for an extra vacation day!

Rediscover the joys of real life

Help your team take control of their screen time with a digital detox. Less stress, improved focus and increased productivity are sure to follow.