Taking back some healthy control

The human brain is a funny thing. Sometimes it likes to control everything, and sometimes it doesn’t want any control and leaves that to other people, nature, circumstance, or technology.

Take the upcoming US election. There will be many people in the UK wanting Trump not to be re-elected. Thinking that if they watch enough rolling news on the TV, that it will happen. It's completely out of their control, they have zero influence on the outcome by doing that.

Then there's the weather. Have you ever found yourself checking and refreshing the weather app on your phone. Thinking that if you keep looking enough times then the sun will come out for you. Again, you can't control it.

What about all those messages that you get all day every day? Emails, Teams, Whatsapp, Workplace, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin. What control do you have over the incoming tsunami of data? None?

The answer is, more than you think. You don't have to have any of these applications open. You can decide when to open and close them.

Yes, you are allowed to close email down for periods of the day, so you can focus on more important things. (unless immediate reactive Customer Service IS your work)

Yes, you can choose to put your phone onto airplane mode to get some peace. (unless you are actually on call for emergencies)

Yes, you can turn notifications off on email, and your different apps, to make you 10% more efficient and gain some headspace.

For many, this all feels too dangerous, against the norm. They trust that the tech companies have their best interests at heart. Plus if they go against the tribe (colleagues and clients) they will be sent packing.

However, many are taking back some control. Realising they have choice and influence. Discovering their own better way of interacting with people and technology is a liberating experience.

A sense of newfound freedom and energy happens through taking back control. Enabling you to do your best work without sacrificing your mental health.