Is your screen time up or down this week?
No doubt, like me, you get a notification on your phone to let you know. (Even if you choose to sometimes ignore it)
It is said we spend on average 2.5 hours a day just on social media, and that is before you factor in the time spent on our computers working. Even in our downtime, many check emails or send texts.
In the age of information, many of us hardly spend any time away from our phones and electronic devices. With some participating on up to eight social media platforms, it is very easy to be overloaded by messages and comments. And that is before you add in the wants and needs of those that matter to your success and happiness.
Experts suggest we are exposed to 34 Gb of data every day, the equivalent of 105,000 words and millions of images and sounds.
Our brains were not designed to process this volume of information, and whether we realise it or not, it can impact our mood and our decision-making. With more and more people having back-to-back meetings and any space between sessions being used to consume more data, more information and more problems, it is not surprising that so many are experiencing overwhelm.
A simple question like “What would you like for dinner?” can become too much to process. When we cannot make simple everyday decisions, it can affect every area of our lives.
Research and reviews
Social media has made the world far more connected, which can be a positive thing. We can communicate with people worldwide and have access to products and services previously unobtainable. This connectivity can expand horizons, alleviate loneliness and generate business opportunities.
The whole point of platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn is to engage with a like-minded community. We look to these communities for their recommendations and comments on products and services. We are more likely to trust a comment on social media than the company promoting said product or service.
How often do you check an Amazon review or visit TripAdvisor before making a purchase? All this is fine, as we consciously consume the information and use it to make informed decisions. Things become more ominous when we unconsciously consume information and therefore unconsciously make decisions and lose confidence in our original decisions.
All influenced by something we have seen or read online! We are so used to being bombarded with messages that I wonder if we are losing the ability to consciously choose what we want to consume and, more importantly, what we will act on.
When I work with clients, 80% of the time, clarity of what they want is enough for action to happen. When a client leaves a session feeling really confident in their next best step and then finds themselves stuck, we often explore what happened between confident and stuck?
Nearly always, it was something they read or saw on social media or some kind of comment or perhaps a lack of response that left them doubting themselves.
Learning to pay attention to what you hear and how that informs your decisions can put you back in control of your thoughts and responses.
In a busy world with so many people talking, it is becoming harder and harder for some to hear themselves think in the sea of noise.
Here at Step by Step Listening, we work with a process called Clean Language, which trains you to listen to your own thoughts and feelings, transforming overwhelm into clarity.
When you have clarity and can take action, that moment can feel like the weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Clients talk about feeling lighter and more energised.
If you are sick and tired of feeling stuck, then get in touch and let’s chat.
