Step away from your screens this summer and disconnect from the ‘demands’ of email and social media so you can really recharge your mental and physical batteries. You’re still able to build strong skills if you like, simply focus on soft skills instead of spending hours each week staring at your screens.
Why? Because a couple of decades ago, we used the internet and our devices to briefly escape from real life. Now we’re using real life as an escape from our always connected digital lives and it’s exhausting! We have the balance wrong, we need to spend more time around people and in nature and less time glued to glowing screens and online debates.
Your career will benefit too when you’re recharged as things get busy again at the end of the summer. And if you’d like to do some professional development over the coming weeks, why not work on your communication and leadership skills instead?
Get some friends together for outdoor fun, like a hike or go kayaking. There’s lots to organise and communicate and every one of those situations gives you practice that comes in handy in your professional life.
Or what about practicing your networking skills by finding ways to meet new people?
We just celebrated Andy’s 50s birthday over the last weekend and this meant bringing together friends and family from different parts of the world, navigating language barriers and finding common ground. It was fun and many new connections were made.
Taking time to be with your favourite people, to engage in your hobbies or to make new experiences isn’t just good for your soul, it’s all an opportunity to continue growing as a person and a professional.
I’m giving myself the challenge to disconnect more by using ‘flight mode’ on my phone liberally every day and spend even more time staring at our baby Annika and soaking in the sunshine and fresh summer breeze around us.
Have a great week!
Eva