The importance of disconnecting in the digital age.
In our society there is a hidden expectation to never stop and rest. Rest is considered indulgent, and most people feel guilty when they take a minute for themselves. However, time and time again, science has shown that rest is a crucial part of having a healthy body and mind and, as a consequence, improving productivity.
For this reason, the European Union introduced mandatory work and rest periods with Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council in 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time. Among other rules, the Directive guarantees uninterrupted breaks of 11 hours every 24 hours for all workers, with some exceptions, considering that rest is necessary for mental regeneration.
But then came the smartphone, which disrupted Europe’s delicate work-life balance. Suddenly, cell phones were in every pocket, laptops in every bag. Suddenly, everyone had access to the Internet and work communication outside the office, on the go and at home.
Under current rules, even reading an email or receiving a call from a colleague counts as work and they should restart the clock for another 11-hour break. However, legal experts claim that the rule is being ignored on a large scale. With mobile devices blurring the boundaries between work and free time, checking work emails after hours has become a widespread habit. You might think it’s not such a big deal to just send a quick email, but in most cases, people continue to work on their thoughts for much longer afterwards, making it difficult to disconnect.
Protecting workers is just as necessary in our new world of digitization, home office and smartphones.
One solution to this problem, which we also adopted at Bounsel, is to turn off communications notifications overnight or pause them to prevent the exchange of emails and work messages outside working hours.
Another solution is to take vacation periods seriously. Lately there has been a push against the so-called “no sleep” culture, arguing against the idea that taking a break is bad for business and recognizing that sleep deprivation takes a terrible toll on physical and mental health, and is often the leading cause of diminished performance at work.
Lately there has been a push against the so-called “no sleep” culture, arguing against the idea that taking a break is bad for business and recognizing that sleep deprivation takes a terrible toll on physical and mental health, and is often the leading cause of diminished performance at work. During the summer, we should be able to find a place of renewal and recovery. Research has often shown that rest is vital to maintaining our passion and reaching our creative potential. As a result, a large number of companies continue with the long-established practice of collectively taking July or August vacations. Images of hammocks and palm trees adorn the websites of small businesses across Europe, wishing customers happy vacations and telling them to come back in September.
Rest is vital to improve mental health, increase concentration and memory, have a healthier immune system, reduce stress, improve mood and even improve metabolism. When you rest you are more creative, patient, productive and have more energy. Working too long without rest reduces your concentration and can depreciate your emotional capacity, while rest can lead to better decision making in all aspects.
It is essential to slow down and take care of your physical and mental health. This summer you can try some of these tips:
- Slow down and take care of your physical health: try to do some physical exercise regularly. Don’t overdo it, take it as a time for yourself, to take care of your body and mind.
- Do something that involves creativity just for the sake of doing it: quiet moments inspire a time of reflection that allows you to break down creative barriers.
- Use the time to dream and push the boundaries of what you could do with your time and effort.
Rest is hard to define because it can be different for everyone, just try to find what works for you and spend time disconnecting from the tasks and deadlines of your daily routine. Like other muscles, the brain is less functional when fatigued. You are always more productive after a period of rest. Whatever your schedule or to-do list, resting and disconnecting is vital to your health, so don’t stop doing it. Enjoy the summer!
