By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
London called again. This time for a BBC show called In the Balance. We discussed how to cope with “Infobesity,” the unhealthy excess of digital information.
Host, Manuela Saragosa moderated a lively conversation with Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer at Microsoft in London, and Julie Deane, the inspiring founder and CEO of Cambridge Satchels Co.
Saragosa: We’re joined by technology journalist, Alison van Diggelen…Alison, we could almost say you’re at the epicenter of the digital deluge there in Silicon Valley…Do you get nervous when you’re not online?
van Diggelen: Yes, I can… (some days) I’m constantly checking my iPhone, for emails, texts, twitter feed, Facebook…the whole thing. When I’ve just released a story (or interview) that I think is going to be reverberating around Silicon Valley and beyond, then I’m constantly checking: who’s reading it, who’s reacting to it…so yes, it can be like an addiction.
Here are some highlights that might help you deal with your digital overload.
1. Don’t multitask
Coplin: Multitasking is a computer-based concept, it’s not a human concept. We’re actually a third less efficient as human beings when we try to do more things at once. The mistake that most people make is that they drift into checking their email at their child’s swimming lesson…as soon as you do that, you’re choosing to disconnect from the experience you’re actually at. (Instead) make that a conscious choice about how you’re going to use the technology.
2. Be your own curator
van Diggelen: Silicon Valley is full of tech obsessed people, competitive Type A personalities, who want to change the world. Being connected and having a strong Internet presence is very important here. It is a case of being disciplined, we have to be our own curators. It is so easy to go down a rabbit hole of information, get distracted by some pop-up, some titillating story on the web. In Silicon Valley there are a lot of tools that people are using. Ironically, people are turning to digital tools to digitally detox.
Coplin: People complain about having too much information, but then say how valuable information is…the thing that can enable us to transform our businesses, to enrich our lives. The problem is we just lack the development of the tools to be able to… sort the useful from the useless.
3. Go inside yourself
van Diggelen: At Google there is a meditation guru, and his title is Chief Happiness Officer, he’s written a book called Search Inside Yourself, and he is leading a drive at Google and beyond…we need to take time to meditate… and get away from all the craziness that’s on the surface…It’s pretty hot and growing here. A lot of Silicon Valley CEO’s like (Salesforce’s) Marc Benioff and Ev Williams (one of the cofounders of Twitter), they’re coming out of the closet and saying: hey, we’ve been doing mindfulness for years and this is a great way to center ourselves, be more creative and be more productive.
Coplin: Mindfulness is big in the UK. But being British, we have a much more pragmatic approach to it…
Saragosa: Cynical, you could say…
Coplin: It’s about being in the moment. How many times do you sit in a meetings…allegedly taking notes but in reality, catching up on emails? Be in the meeting. How many times do you sit in a pub or cafe with your friends …checking your friends’ (Facebook) status. You’re there. Be in the moment. Things like Twitter and Facebook…it’s a fast flowing river, and from the moment you stand on the river bank you can enjoy watching the river go by…
See more BBC Conversations on the Dalai Lama, the Business case for Scottish independence and the greening of Silicon Valley.
