There was a lot of talk about Café Brecht in Amsterdam some time ago. Mind you, this is not an advert. It was talked about because the place has become a sort of happy islandcompletely isolated (obviously in the IT sense) from the outside world. No smartphones, nothing, tablets, no emails, no signals to warn you of the arrival of a message. In short, peace, so much so that the term “Offline Club” was coined.
Even though holidays are increasingly “hit and run”, we are right in the middle of the holiday period. And we should find the strength to disconnect, forgetting agendas, timetablespassages of all kinds that bring our mind back to the commitment of work. In short, it would be important be able to detach. Easy to say, but terribly difficult to do. Even if the psyche and the body need to recover a human dimension made of looks, smiles, vocal interactions and more.
The urge to always be present
Let’s face it. In some ways, being connected is a necessity that unfortunately we struggle to do without. Like a kind of stigma that marks us. At any time of the day (and sometimes even at night!), when the mind seems to have entered a path of rest and relaxation, We often fail to stop ourselves to reach for our smartphone or computer if we are at home to see if an email has arrived. Or we go to social media. Or we feel orphaned of news.
For those who find themselves in these conditions, perhaps on holiday on a beach or along a mountain path, there may be signs of the hyperconnection syndrome. The painting, even if it may seem strange, was born from theconstant anxiety of feeling competitive and adequatecompared to the role you have. And so you risk entering a condition that resembles that of chronic stress, with repercussions that can go beyond the simple desire for constant connection, looking for networks where they do not exist or perhaps developing problems such as difficulty falling asleep or inexplicable agitation just because the email does not arrive. In practice, you risk a form of connection dependency, which should be avoided for your well-being. Because stopping is important, and we need it.
Attention also for managers
Performance anxiety, let’s be clear, is not an age issue. And with it, the need to find oneself anyway does not look at one’s identity card. always informed and available. Yet there are studies that say how much and how those who have roles of responsibility or in any case manage collaborators would need to find themselves calm and at peace. Because be able to disconnect it is not only a pleasure but it becomes almost an obligation in terms of effectiveness and efficiency at work.
To report how the strength to say stop to the continuous connection is useful not only on the psychological front but also in professional activity there is a study conducted some time ago by experts from the University of Florida, published on Journal of Applied Psychology. According to the research results, the optimal balance between private life and work also depends on the ability to leave work issues aside once the office is closed, to relax and live a full and satisfying life within the home walls.
Translating this data, the holiday becomes even more important. Because it really does allow you to get back into shape. Let’s be clear. In the study, the problem of hyperconnectivity was experienced on the circadian rhythm, and not days or weeks. But the study clearly shows that when those in charge were able to completely unplug without thinking about work at night, the next day they felt fitter and above all more recognized as a “guide” by collaborators.
On the contrary, those who were unable to get their worries out of their minds, perhaps even by chatting or replying to emails during the night, were found to be worse the next day. with less energy. And this was noticed by those who worked with him/her.
How can we “reset” ourselves on vacation?
So what? So we think that Hyperconnection Syndrome Exists and let’s try, as much as possible, to reset ourselves on vacation. Doing it our way, because There is no one-size-fits-all recipe. There are those who prefer physical activity, perhaps with the classic game of tennis, running or exercises in the gym, and those who want quality time with the family. In short, there is a tailor-made recipe for each person. The important thing is not to fall into the traps imposed by the availability of a formidable connection tool like the smartphone, always close to us, manager or not.
The risk is that of finding oneself a victim of the “phubbing”, characterized by the tendency to neglect people and company to compulsively check the cell phone. And not just to look at work commitments. Whether you are a manager or live in a less responsible professional and social reality, in short, we need to detox. This can help us overcome a number of small, potential problems.
Don’t believe it? Go back and read a research presented some time ago at the congress of the Radiological Society of North America, conducted at the University of Seoul. The study says that the inability to stay away from laptops or the webin addition to being associated with various disorders, feelings of loneliness, social self-isolation, sleep rhythm imbalances, weight gain and depression, it can really “get us high”. In fact, this would set in motion a real alteration in the relationships between the different compounds that convey information between the cells of the nervous system. Which, in the end, could also contribute to opening the door to anxiety and gloomy mood.
Four Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim of “Connection”
- Monitor your time on social media. It is important to monitor how much you are connected in 24 hours, to set a limit that you do not exceed.
- Say stop email. Look at the clock. Decide how and when to suspend email access. And stick to the times.
- No notifications. Sometimes the smartphone “calls” us with signals that invite us to check the situation. Better to turn off notifications.
- Tailor-made free time. Organize your free time to have the right spaces between reading, physical activity, time for family and friends.
