Our Attraction to Distraction - Newsletter Series Nº 3

what is it?
With society’s new attachment to these incredibly powerful communication devices, we are becoming increasingly dependent on them to the point of imbalance.  This imbalance is impacting our mental and physical well being.


why is it difficult? 
Science is pointing to the dopamine release in the brain as one of the primary reasons for our addiction.  In the brain dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a major role in the motivational component of reward-motivated behavior.

About a month ago, my wife, 19-year-old son and I decided to try an experiment.  She and I had been harping on the young man for weeks about his screen time and seeming addiction to his phone and technology devices.  We decided to have a screen-free day for all of us on a beautiful Sunday in southern California.  No problem, right?
 
What we discovered didn't surprise us as we all found this little exercise incredibly challenging. 
 
It started with a few impulses to frantically check my pockets for my phone as my subconscious mind was still looking for its security blanket.  Next up was feeling the lack of access to my music which typically I have running as a soundtrack to most activities in my life.  The biggest surprise to me came from my unanticipated dependency on the map features.  As part of the experiment we had planned a day trip to Long Beach to walk around and see what we could see with our eyes open...  But how would we get there?  We had just moved to Los Angeles from Chicago nine months prior so we had a general idea of how to get there.  We set off, not necessarily taking the shortest or the most direct path. But we got there and were quite proud.
 
Let's pivot to the work environment. Unlike a day at the beach we have expectations of our productivity and focus. Yet the distractions still surround us.  Interruptions from news and social apps, texts, emails and even the archaic phone call are all buzzing, chirping, and popping up uninvited into our consciousness all day, every day.  And it is having a detrimental impact on our productivity and our quality of life.  What started out as technology designed to help is evolving into technology that ultimately hurts.  Without some degree of balance between technology and our personal and professional lives, we will continue to see the negative effects.
 
Sadly, I have witnessed recent graduates begin the first job of their career, unable to take control over these distractions in their work life to the point that they are let go.  How do you explain going to college or university for 4+ years only to get fired because you couldn't put your phone away?  Any other addiction impacting careers and social wellness would be treated with a sense of urgency. Yet we continue to look the other way.

So what is the solution?  I've heard stories of Obama forcing cabinet members to leave their cell phones in a basket marked with a sticky note prior to a meeting.  There is the popular game of phone stacking in which guests stack their phones in the middle of the table during dinner as a playful way to drive engagement with each other and encourage being present.  

Whoever checks their phone first before the check arrives has to pick up the tab for all.

Regarding the younger generation that appears hopelessly addicted to these devices, I believe it is our job as parents, mentors, and leaders to give them the structure and guidance as to what is appropriate use and inform them of what the consequences of overuse could be in their personal and professional lives. 

One could argue that the older generations need to adapt to the younger generation's way of life. While I understand that perspective, I do not think it applies in this case, especially when it is having a negative impact, and victims seem powerless over the allure and instant gratification that technology brings into their lives, mine included. 

I am curious to hear from others on this topic. Please feel free to respond to this newsletter with comments, stories, and opinions. If you would like to explore workplace solutions for your team, please contact us below.