Why Taking Regular Tech Breaks is great for your Team
Harnessing technology with intention to boost productivity and stay focused on your priorities in a world full of distractions
We live in a time where technology promises to make everything easier, faster, and more efficient—or at least, that’s the sales pitch. From smartphones to project management apps, we have an array of tools at our disposal that claim to help us get more done in less time. But despite all these advancements, many people feel busier than ever. Why? Because the very tools designed to streamline our lives can also become sources of constant distraction if we use them unintentionally.
In the modern workplace, smartphones, computers, and apps meant to enhance productivity can often do the opposite. When not used mindfully, they pull us away from tasks that matter and derail our focus. The result? Instead of mastering our time, we find ourselves reacting to endless notifications, apps, and digital interruptions. In this blog, we’ll explore how to regain control by being intentional with both your time and technology.
TechTimeOut Tuesday: National Digital Wellbeing Day
This year’s National Digital Wellbeing Day, known as techtimeout tuesday, takes place on Tuesday, 3rd December. This initiative encourages people, and workplaces to disconnect from their screens, take a break from technology, and promote a healthier relationship with digital tools. Our friends at Freedom will be joining over a million people participating in this event to enjoy some well-deserved screen-free time.
It’s a perfect opportunity to experience firsthand how stepping away from devices can boost overall well-being and focus. Whether you decide to join techtimeout tuesday or start with a smaller digital detox in your own life, the benefits of disconnecting are immense.
We welcome you to join us and we’d like to discuss the benefits of this for you, and your colleagues.
The Trap of Technology: Helpful or Harmful?
Technology is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful tools we have. It can enable collaboration across continents, automate mundane tasks, and help us solve complex problems. But it also comes with a hidden cost—distraction.
Think about how often you’re interrupted by notifications, emails, or social media pings while working. Each time we get sidetracked by a phone vibration or a message notification, it pulls us away from our focus. Even a brief distraction can set you back significantly, as it takes time to regain your concentration.
Moreover, many apps—especially social media—are designed to keep you hooked. Features like endless scrolling, push notifications, and algorithmically curated feeds are engineered to capture and hold your attention for as long as possible. This phenomenon even has a name: phubbing—snubbing someone in favour of your phone. In a professional context, this behaviour becomes a major productivity killer.
The Impact of Phone Overuse
“We rationalise that the phone makes us more productive, allowing us to engage in important communication all day long. But is that true?” [i]According to research by Dr. Wendy L. Patrick, our constant engagement with smartphones leads to fragmented attention and decreased focus.
In a study by Éilish Duke titled “Smartphone addiction, daily interruptions and self-reported productivity”, it was shown that excessive phone use dramatically reduces productivity. Even if you’re not actively using your phone, just having it within reach can create mental distractions, preventing you from entering a state of deep work. Deep work—where you focus without interruption—is essential for completing tasks efficiently, but the constant flow of digital interruptions erodes this ability. As a result, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving suffer.
Making Technology Work for You, Not Against You
To regain control of your workday and your focus, the key is to accept that you can’t do everything. Time is finite, and the secret to mastering it lies in making conscious choices about how you spend it. Let’s dive into practical ways to balance technology use with intentionality, so you can boost productivity and stay focused on what matters.
1. Identify Your Priorities: What MUST You Do Today?
Each day, you are faced with a never-ending list of tasks. The first step to productivity is understanding that not all tasks are created equal. Some will move you forward, while others are more trivial or can wait for another time. Start your day by asking, “What MUST I accomplish today?”
By identifying the top two or three tasks that are most critical to your goals, you’ll have a clear direction for the day. When distractions arise (as they inevitably will), you can return to these key tasks, knowing they are the most important things on your plate.
This practice not only helps you stay focused but also ensures that you’re prioritising tasks that matter rather than falling into the trap of busy work—tasks that fill your time but don’t advance your goals.
2. Embrace Being Unfinished: What Are You Happy to Leave for Later?
We often feel the pressure to finish everything on our to-do list, but this is a recipe for burnout and frustration. The truth is, there will always be more to do than time to do it. And that’s okay. Part of mastering your time is learning to be comfortable with leaving some tasks unfinished.
Once you’ve identified your top priorities, accept that less critical tasks can be postponed without guilt. By letting go of the need to complete everything in one day, you free up mental energy to concentrate on the most important tasks. This mindset shift can help you stay focused, prevent overwhelm, and maintain productivity over the long term.
3. Control Smartphone Habits: Set Boundaries
If your phone has become a constant source of distraction, it’s time to establish boundaries. Without clear limits, your phone can easily pull you into endless cycles of interruptions. Start by designating specific times for checking your phone, responding to emails, or engaging with social media. Use tools to help you like Freedom to remove the distractions —out of sight, out of mind really does help.
Another effective boundary is turning off non-essential notifications. Do you really need a notification every time someone likes a social media post or sends a text? Probably not. By cutting down on unnecessary notifications, you can reduce the frequency of interruptions and stay in control of your focus.
4. Break the Cycle of Addictive Apps
It’s no secret that some apps—especially social media and entertainment apps—are designed to keep you scrolling. The more you scroll, the more time you waste. If you find yourself falling into the trap of addictive apps, take action.
First, identify which apps are your biggest time-wasters. If they aren’t contributing to your personal growth or productivity, consider uninstalling them. If deleting them seems too drastic, move them to a less accessible folder on your phone. By making these apps harder to access, you add a small barrier that can reduce unconscious usage and give you a moment to pause before diving in.
5. techtimeout for Deep Focus
Incorporating regular techtimeout digital detox into your routine can significantly improve your ability to focus. Even a short break from screens and notifications each day can lead to better mental clarity and concentration. Try scheduling sometime every day where you unplug from your devices entirely. Use this time to engage in deep work—tasks that require your full attention and creativity without interruptions.
Deep work is where real progress happens. It’s in these moments of uninterrupted focus that you’ll get the most done. By making space for digital detoxes, you allow yourself to engage in meaningful, productive work without being pulled in a thousand directions.
6. Mindful Tech Use: Use Technology as a Tool, Not a Crutch
At the heart of all these strategies is the principle of mindful technology use. Technology should be a tool that helps you achieve your goals—not a crutch that hinders your progress. Before engaging with any app, tool, or website, ask yourself, “Is this helping me move closer to my goals, or is it just a distraction?”
By being mindful of how you use technology, you can align your digital habits with your priorities. Rather than mindlessly scrolling or reacting to every notification, you can use technology to support your productivity in a meaningful way.
You Can’t Do Everything—And That’s Okay
In today’s world of constant digital distractions, it’s impossible to do everything. And that’s okay. The secret to mastering your time is being intentional—both with your time and your technology. Prioritize the tasks that truly matter, set healthy boundaries with your devices, and be comfortable with leaving some things unfinished.
By making technology work for you—not against you—you’ll boost your productivity, reduce overwhelm, and stay focused on what really matters. After all, time is finite, and how you choose to spend it will determine your success.
Register for techtimeout tuesday
techtimeout tuesday is here to help us develop better tech habits and remind us that digital wellbeing is an important part of modern life, both at work and at home. So why not join us this year?
It’s free to take part in, all you have to do is:
- Register here as a company or individual
- Pick a time
- Pick an offline activity
- Enjoy some screen-free time
