Is The Chirp…Buzz…Ping Of Notifications Making You Neurotic?
Awhile back I decided to do some research while I was on the road. I wanted to see what it was like to have every notification on my smartphone turned on for one day. How long do you think I went without being interrupted by a chirp, buzz, or vibration? 30 minutes? 20 minutes? Guess again. On average, I was interrupted about every 10–12 minutes with some type of new information that I supposedly needed to respond to. It was ridiculous.
I actually wasn’t all that surprised by the results. I frequently interact with people whose electronic devices are constantly trying to get their attention. And whether they actually look at the notification or not, the sound or vibration alone is enough to prevent them from being fully focused in the present moment.
I believe this unbridled use of notifications on our electronic devices is leading many of us to a temporary mild neurosis. Neurosis, as defined by many researchers, is a distorted way of looking at the world and at oneself, which is determined by compulsive needs rather than by a genuine interest in the world as it is. Notifications definitely make us more “edgy” as they constantly bombard us with messages and invite us to leave the present moment.
Individuals who aren’t willing to tame these mental monsters are in danger of fracturing their focus throughout the day and yes, limit their ability to participate in the present moment Is it any wonder they can’t get anything of substance accomplished and have heightened feelings of anxiety throughout the day?
If you’re ready to get serious about taking back your day and improving your ability to thrive in the present moment, let’s look at some ways you can recover from this neurosis caused by notifications:
Identify the notifications required to stay in contact with work. Most likely these would be email, voice mail, and text messages. But when are they required? Just because someone didn’t work efficiently during the day doesn’t mean they should always be able to take you as a mental hostage in the evening. Consider turning these notifications off or at least moving your mobile device away from you in the evening when you want to relax or focus on other things.
Turn off every other audible notification. Period. If your Aunt Ethel is sick and someone needs to get in touch with you, they will probably not be sending you a Facebook message or posting something to Instagram to alert you. You wouldn’t allow a coworker to physically invade your work area multiple times a day to just share what was on their mind, would you? Audible notifications work in the same way. They take our focus away from what we were doing as we ask, “I wonder what that notification could be…?”
Use your interaction with social media as a reward. Identify times in your day or evening when it makes sense to take a few minutes and respond to others. You will probably find that those receiving your reply will be grateful for the more robust and meaningful response. Stop hacking up your day by checking your phone every time someone else wants their priorities to become yours.
Make the effort. One of my favorite “poking” moments in a training program about work/life balance is to ask how many individuals sleep with their mobile phones next to their bed. The numbers are staggering. I’ll hear justifications like, “It’s my alarm clock,” or “I have to be available in case someone needs to reach me.” My response is, “I understand. It’s a good thing you turn off cellular data or turn on “Do Not Disturb” so all those unimportant notifications don’t bother you while you sleep………” The look on their faces is priceless. It takes all of 2 seconds to make the change which will limit incoming notifications to phone and text. Isn’t this small amount of effort worth it to improve your ability to physically and mentally rest?
Finally, remember the words from the fantastic book, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. He writes, Casual relationships deserve casual time-not quality time. Olson goes on to explain that we need to develop a compassionate awareness of who really needs and deserves our full attention throughout the day. I’m betting that many times the most important person for you isn’t at the end of that notification-it’s either you and the work you are focusing on or the person in front of you. It’s time to cure this neurosis and regain the joy and reality offered by the present moment.
How could you better manage the digital distractions in your day?
