Most things can wait.

Ray Tomlinson established the first networked e-mail system on arpanet (the internet’s ancestor), back in 1971. It was a slow start but look at us now. Nearly 3 billion e-mails are sent every single day. 

The average person will make, receive or avoid 22 phone calls and send 23 text messages on any given day. 

And then there’s social media. 

It has got out of control, if you ask me. We check our phones while eating or driving or talking with someone. We use it in the bathroom, while watching TV and in bed. Our lives seem to be dependent on it... 

But guess what? It doesn’t. Most things can wait.

It is close to impossible to think when you’re constantly interrupted. Making your brain switching rapidly among tasks might feel productive but it is in fact the complete opposite. The brain can not multitask. Remember that, next time you find yourself reaching for your device. Resist the temptation to check each and every e-mail as it lands in your mailbox. Ask yourself what could be gained from checking it right this minute. Re-think the urge.

Being self-employed, the lines between work and play are often blurred, but I am becoming more and more aware of the importance of switching off. Staying “constant on” doesn’t make me feel good. The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is actually a psychological disorder. Realising this made me de-clutter my social media ‘dramatically’ and I now know that ‘likes’ will never make or break me. What a revelation!

Boredom, daydreaming and interacting with other people are so much more important for your self growth than always checking your constant stream of notifications. Me thinks. 
​
Thanks for reading. Now turn your device off............ ;-)