Home / Resources / Try becoming mutually unplugged

Try becoming mutually unplugged

 

Think about your average day

Is it all your outstanding tasks or the daily interruptions you incur which cause feelings of stress or low morale and stop you from getting on and clearing your to-do list?

Researchers have found that it takes over 20 mins to fully re-engage with a task following an interruption. This, coupled with the frequency which many of us switch tasks, can result in our energy being depleted and frustrations about our productivity being felt. Week on week, this can lead to increased pressure, low morale and potential burnout.

Interruptions can be varied – ringing phones, “have you got a minute?” pop-ins, bulging inboxes, not to mention our attention spans shortening due to internet usage and social media addiction.

Added together, the time spent getting your concentration back and switching from one task to another can represent a scary proportion of the working day.

What can you do?

  1. Suggest that Dress Down Fridays have become a bit old hat and you’d like Mutually Unplugged Tuesdays to be introduced.
  2. Try explaining to your boss and colleagues that you feel you would be far more productive if you had a set period when there were no interruptions.
  3. Pick a time of the day when you will all be at your most productive, the post-lunch energy dip is probably best avoided!
  4. Propose that you and your team have a couple of hours when everyone closes off from calls, digital prompts and email and has uninterrupted time to concentrate and make progress with a task.
  5. Try it for a set period and monitor results, do you and/or others notice an effect on individual and group productivity?

 

Many other tips are available on our website – please have a browse to find some that work for you

 

resilience or stress management

View our Resilience and Stress Management training courses

Recent articles on our blog....

Image of a pale blue open envelope with a white card popping out with the word newsletter written in pale blue across the top and two darker blue arrows wrapping around the envelope

Late summer 2024 newsletter includes tips to reduce productivity anxiety

September 18, 2024

The latest edition of our quarterly workplace wellbeing newsletter includes tips to reduce productivity anxiety and many other resources.

Read More →

For Autumn 2024 – 6 new training courses to aid workplace wellbeing

September 11, 2024

We introduce six new training courses which are now available for in-house delivery. All are delivered by experienced trainers who are experts in their field. The courses encompass emotional intelligence, growth leadership, interviewing skills and techniques, managing a hybrid workforce effectively, proactive stress management, and designing and implementing inclusive recruitment selection processes.

Read More →
A montage of lots of sets of eyes looking towards the reader

Tips to help individuals and managers reduce productivity anxiety

September 11, 2024

It can be easy to feel worried or stressed that we aren’t getting through our workload as effectively as we think we should. In this post, we look at some practical actions both individuals and managers can take to help reduce feelings of anxiety relating to our productivity.

Read More →

Testimonials

ineq-about-us-150x150

Our purpose is to provide training and consultancy services to enhance resilience, health and wellbeing in the workplace.

ineq-ethos-values-150x150

Differentiation is one of the most strategic and tactical activities in which companies most constantly engage

ineq-faqs-150x150

It's natural to have questions about training and how it fits with your organisation. Our FAQs can help you find out more.

ineq-case-studies-150x150

View case studies for some of the in-house training courses we have delivered to different types of organisations across the UK.