Recently while in the UK, I took my iPhone to the Apple store for a battery replacement. They needed 60 minutes, so I grabbed a drink at a nearby coffee shop and relaxed on a cozy sofa. Without my phone, I initially felt awkward, but it turned into an enjoyable hour of people-watching.
Returning after an hour, the store needed more time. ‘What will I do now without my phone?’ I thought to myself. I ended up at the John Lewis department store, meandering and then sitting on some sofas in the home furnishings department (I have a thing for sofas!) – just watching people, reflecting, and doing nothing.
By the time I got my phone back, I was surprisingly calm, relaxed, and clear-headed. That evening, with my phone set aside, I experienced a burst of new ideas to ongoing challenges and a great night’s sleep.
This experience reminded me of a fantastic interview with Simon Sinek about technology addiction. It’s an important reminder in our digital world about the need to balance tech use. At TalentXtTech, we talk a lot about thriving in an AI-driven world, so moments like this are a good reminder that sometimes the smartest move is to just unplug.
In an AI enabled world, becoming more tech-literate is going to be essential for career and business success. However, being too attached to our devices can hinder our progress, especially as skills like Emotional Intelligence, empathy, creativity, and critical thinking become increasingly valuable in the Future of Work.
These vital human-centric skills that protect your career in an AI enabled world – are diminished when we are overstimulated and distracted by technology. Quite the contradiction.
None of this is rocket science, most of us understand this. But sometimes we need a reminder, just like I did. A big thanks to the Apple retail team for the excellent customer service – and for the nudge to use their phones less 😊
Check out this excellent 4-minute video with Simon Sinek and consider the value of some tech-free time.
