In the saddle: Continuously connected

Joshua Nuttall is part of the marketing team at Purple Group, a CN&CO client. He uses his IN THE SADDLE column on our blog to share the thoughts that pop into his head while he’s out riding his bicycle…

Ever felt like you can’t put your cell phone, laptop or tablet down? Or do you find yourself constantly flicking between a couple of different tasks, interrupted by the odd social media meander? We like to call it multitasking, but we aren’t applying our minds to fully completing one task (taking far longer to complete something than we should).

Even as I am writing this, I have been jumping between a few tasks and hence it has taken me a lot longer to write this little blurb than it should have. I didn’t even have writer’s block!

For many people, being continuously connected is part and parcel of the modern world. We are always contactable, thanks to those little devices called mobile phones. Well, unless we drop off the radar and head into the bush where there is no signal.

Some may enjoy always being connected. But on the opposite end of the scale, some may utterly detest it. I see myself somewhere in the middle, being socially connected, up to date and engaged in the twitter-sphere is something that I enjoy. Different people enjoy a variety of social media connections…Instagram, Facebook, the list goes on.

Being in the middle ground I am aware of both the pros and cons of always being online and connected. It’s important that we make time to unplug, whether it be reading a book or seeking solitude in a yoga class. The bottom line is that you need some time to yourself, no matter what a pro you are at multitasking. I have developed more of an awareness around unplugging and how multitasking can have an impact on my attention span and attention to detail.

The below article from Thrive Global (a daily go-to of mine at present) offers an interesting opinion on multitasking. It is one that I can identify with: What All That Multitasking Is Doing To Your Brain—And Memory. I had an interesting thought about connectivity when reading the article. It reinforced that we are so connected (digitally with technology) in this modern age that we mustn’t forget how vital it is that we connect with ourselves.

Make time for yourself. Read a book, check out a yoga class or simply sit in quietness for a while and unplug (you can call it meditation if you like). After all, the world won’t end if you don’t immediately reply to the WhatsApp message that just came through to your phone.

Have a fantastic week!