How to switch off

We all know taking time out is key but it’s easier said than done. Here, our panellists share the strategies that work for them.

Melanie Silva

I’ve realised just how much less productive I am because of my phone. There are some meetings where I’ll put it out of sight. When you’re really present in a meeting, it a) goes faster, and b) you can run out a little bit earlier. Both iPhones and Android phones have great features where you can select your favourite contacts and, no matter what happens, when they call your phone will ring, even if it’s on silent. I have three numbers “starred” in my contacts: my daughter’s school, my son’s school and the security guy at Google. If anything ever goes wrong, I know those calls will come through.

Didier Elzinga

My wife and I have set each other a challenge for weekends, particularly when we’re around the kids: every time you take the phone out of your pocket, you have to say what it is you’re doing. Why are you taking the phone out of your pocket? Nine times out of 10, you have no idea. We’re just doing it because we’re trained to do it. So it’s essentially an act of mindfulness in the process of checking your phone. It’s okay to say, “I’m checking a basketball score” or, “I’m checking to see if I’ve got an email” or whatever and then you put the phone away. But it’s been really powerful for us in trying to untether outside of work.

Brad Banducci

I do a lot of yoga – it’s an entry into mindfulness and is really important. You have so much visual stimulation that you can lose sight of what’s important. What is the priority today? This week? This quarter? You’ve got to give yourself some quiet time or a mindful moment to reset the agenda. The clarity of thought you invariably have at the end is key.