Out of Office

Your Power is in the Pause

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Today, we discuss the growing issue of virtual fatigue in the workplace, caused by prolonged exposure to digital platforms. We emphasize the importance of taking breaks and practicing self-care to avoid virtual fatigue, citing research from Microsoft's Human Factors Lab and Arianna Huffington's article on Thrive Global.

We also discuss the trend of employees taking more PTO days due to workplace stress and the need for managers to provide 'air cover' for employees to take breaks and prioritize their well-being, leading to a more productive and engaged workforce, reduced stress, and burnout.

How to take action:

  • Make it a practice to block off 15-minute breaks on calendars for "breathing room" and resetting.
  • Ensure managers provide "air cover" and support for staff who schedule their break time.
  • Check-in with your team to see how they are feeling after implementing virtual breaks.

    • Resources Mentioned in the Show:

    • https://coda.io/@arianna-huffington/the-power-of-reset
    • https://thriveglobal-apac.com/stories/virtual-fatigue-is-real-and-so-is-the-science-on-taking-breaks/
    • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2020/07/08/future-work-good-challenging-unknown
      • ...more
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      Out of OfficeBy Kadesh Simms Conroy & Chris Conroy