In the early 2000s the Blackberry Smartphone was all the rage in the business world.
I didn’t want one.
I always liked technology and was an early adopter of many software solutions.
So why didn’t I push to get one, and instead deferred and said, “no thanks, I’m good” when my boss wanted me to get one? I was given one at Christmas, so I didn’t win the battle.
I also lost when I regularly did not use chat in the office for many of the same reasons, different boss and company.
What are my reasons? 24/7 connectivity is great, but I want it on my own terms. When I left the office, it was my time. I would stay late when necessary, but with a phone you get significantly more interruptions for increasingly less important things and the expected response time is reduced significantly because you are considered to be available.
I also want to focus while I am working on something and chat messages popping up force me to stop, shift my thinking, respond, shift my thinking back, recall where I was at and try to proceed. It is horribly inefficient.
In social settings, if i take the time and make the effort to be with someone, i don’t want to be an afterthought to a call or message the other person gets on their phone. Conversely, I respect their time and appreciate their being with me, so I’m not using my phone.
I came across a post on the Personal Branding Blog titled, “People who choose to keep their phones on silent often exhibit these 7 signs of emotional intelligence.”
Needless to say at this point, I keep my phone on silent.
The post gave these 7 signs:
- They value focus and productivity
- They respect their personal time
- They are more likely to live in the moment
- They understand the importance of deep work
- They are not slaves to their devices
- They prioritize meaningful connections
- They are practicing self-care
In closing the author states it is a deliberate choice demonstrating an emphasis on mindfulness.
Out of the seven, only one I would question about myself and that is being a slave to the device. While I am not a slave to the device from the perspective of checking every notification, I am from the perspective that I want it with me at all times.
I want it with me for a few key reasons.
- I’ve been tracking health related information and want to be sure I collect as much as possible.
- I do like being able to jot down a thought or idea and being able to quickly retrieve a list or take notes at appointments, etc.
- Alarms and my calendar help keep me on track throughout the day.
- And, all the standard functions provided by having an internet connections – email, messaging, maps, search, etc.
Use your phone as it works best for you, don’t feel guilty for doing what I do and keep it on silent and reply at your convenience.
Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker 