Disconnecting,
When All We Want To Do Is Be Connected

No matter where you live, you have no doubt been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that we find ourselves living through. We are all struggling through a lack of social engagement and seclusion, leading us to a host of virtual platforms and seeking connection with others.

You can't watch a news report, visit a social media site, perform a Google search or see a text message without being inundated with virus-related news, or without seeing the effects of the pandemic on those you know and love. People across the globe are pushing out information through these digital tools, keeping everyone up to date and well informed.

This is vitally important for our health and survival.

During this challenging time, people have begun increasing communication and enlarging their digital footprints. The result has been an increase in engagement, connectedness and sharing of information between people. Information designed to keep us safe and informed is being communicated by the minute. This readily accessible information is also vital to our success during this time. But, with all of this digital connection, it’s also easy to feel you have to be connected all of the time – lest you miss something important.

Some advice we are receiving to keep our mental health strong, leadership vibrant and energy levels at peak performance look like this:

1. Exercise your body and mind.
2. Stay informed of the current situation and events in your community.
3. Communicate regularly with your family, friends, work, clients and spiritual influences.
4. Find ways to communicate through video so you can see and interact with those around you.

Related Content: How 13 SEH Employees are Prioritizing Their Mental and Physical Health While Working Remotely

We’ve all heard these sentiments and are doing our best to take advantage of every opportunity to interact through these activities. However, there is one point that I’m not hearing and want to make sure isn't missed during all of this. Don't forget to disconnect!

There is so much mental, emotional and creative engagement going on that there is a real danger it will quickly invade every minute of our lives, causing us to lose the one thing we vitally need during this time – QUIET.

The noise around us is at an all-time high (as it should be in this time), but the risk of constant stimulation with no down time for our minds and bodies to relax, recharge and reinvigorate is real. This down time is vital for our ability to effectively lead our lives, families, work teams, businesses, spiritual events and otherwise interact with those around us.

Here are a few quick hints to help manage your work and personal life during this time of constant connection:

With all that's going on, I’ve found myself getting inundated with invitations to virtually connect, attend meetings and engage those around me in virtual connection. While I love to see technology in full effect, I had to stop and realize this is quickly invading every space in my life. I had to go back to the basics of time management and set barriers so I can be successful during this time. You may need to do the same. In order to operate at a high level and be the influence we are called to be, we must take time to step back, making sure we focus on disconnecting as much as connecting.

These are trying times, but also exciting times as we stretch technology and humanity to new levels. Let's do this together and be healthy in the process.

About the Author