Don’t Sleep with Your Smartphone
Admit it. You respond to smartphone messages 24/7 because it makes you feel more productive. Really? In this Harvard Business Review blog, Ndubuisi Ekekwe says that shutting down after hours is one way to “put these devices in their place — that is, to serve us, and not the other way around.”
Mobile devices have exacerbated an always-on work culture where employees work anytime, anywhere. They’ve contributed to the blurred distinction between when you’re “on the clock” and when you’re not. Service industry professionals are especially tethered to these devices. There’s an assumption that using smart devices boosts productivity, since they allow us to work constantly.
But, we’re also jeopardizing long-term productivity by eliminating predictable time off that ensures balance in our lives. Is the obsession of regularly checking email really helping anyone’s bottom line? Are the unrealistic expectations these devices facilitate not setting staff up for burnout?
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