How ‘batching’ my online tasks freed me from the shackles of technology
When aiming for cultural change, whether at work or home, it starts with behaviours. What are people doing daily, and what habits have they formed? Are these habits helpful or detrimental to them and those around them? Are their peers exhibiting similar behaviours? How can we challenge these norms to encourage a fresh approach that offers tangible benefits?
In a world where we constantly jump on and off technology, many feel they lack the time to accomplish everything. Habitual device checking, refreshing inboxes, and impulsively acting on every thought by reaching for our phones or laptops can lead to feeling overwhelmed. Tasks become disorganised and inefficient. For example, you might pick up your phone to message a friend and get sidetracked by new notifications or a quick scroll through social media, losing 20 minutes in the process. Jumping onto your email to send a quick note to a colleague, to get the thought out of your head and into their inbox, may seem like the most time-efficient way to work, but undoubtedly seeing new messages that have arrived for you can take you off course.
This is where a simple behaviour shift can make a massive difference. When I first experienced severe digital overwhelm in 2013, I started putting my phone away during the day. Out of sight, out of mind – less temptation to check it if it's not visible. But I soon realised I would remember someone I needed to message or something I needed to Google. So, I began writing these tasks down on a pad, checking my phone every two hours to complete them. Immediately, my day felt more open and less crowded. My mind was clearer. I was using technology with real intent and felt in control.
Research has found that I wasn’t alone in experiencing these benefits. A study conducted by Fitz et al. (2019) found that participants who received their phone notifications in batches three times a day felt more attentive, productive and in a better mood compared to those who received notifications as they occurred. Who wants to be interrupted constantly by other people’s demands? Not me.
The same principle can minimise digital distractions at work. Keep a pad beside you, keep your inbox offline or closed, and do the same with Teams or Slack. Focus your mind on completing your tasks. If you need to go online and move away from your current task, write it on the pad and ‘batch’ these actions together.
This incredibly simple change in digital habits resonates with people in my training sessions. I bring my ‘batch pads’ to face-to-face sessions, and everyone leaves with one in their pocket. The pads are small enough to carry around. If you want to go for a walk but need a break from digital, leave your phone behind and take the pad and pen instead. Walking is when I have my lightbulb moments, so rather than reciting the thought repeatedly, I capture it on the pad and action it when I get back to my phone.
By making a small change like this yourself and discussing its positive impact with those you work and live with, you can encourage helpful behaviour change. This is how we can all improve our digital cultures and move towards a life that digital technology complements rather than controls.