Emma: “Don’t blow your top with tech”

It takes Brits just seven minutes to lose their rag with no phone signal. Emma advises how to keep our cool

These days, we T want everything to be instant, from messaging to online shopping, and when things don’t run smoothly, we don’t react well. Technology was, ironically, supposed to give us more leisure time but, in reality, it’s provided us with even more ways to cram extra into our hectic schedules.

Research has shown that it takes just seven minutes for us to blow a fuse when we lose phone signal, and eight minutes without Wi-fi to see red. The fear of missing out is palpable, if irrational. We need to step back and gain perspective. Not so long ago, we thought nothing of writing a letter abroad and waiting weeks for a response.

When you feel yourself starting to lose your composure, pause and reflect. First, notice where you feel stress physically – are your shoulders up around your ears or are you clenching your jaw? Make a conscious effort to relax your body. Focus on getting your breathing under control by taking deep, slow and steady breaths. If the spinning wheel of doom on your computer is giving you palpitations, rather than staring at it, step away and do something else. Tea, anyone? Brief stroll?

Now, ask yourself, is that call or status update really that important? Does it matter in the grand scheme of things if you’re five minutes late? Is there another way to make contact or could someone else help you? Switch tasks to something offline while you wait, then when Wi-fi or signal is back, you’ve crossed something else off your to-do list.