Yes, I know we all love our mobile phones.  From paying for a purchase to mapping out directions, the number of time saving tasks you can do with your phone is actually quite incredible.

But while we may think that having our mobile device at hand is actually making us more efficient, is it?  A study by Harris/Decima for CIBC reveals Canadians check their phones every 10 minutes.  Every 10 minutes! That’s over 100x per day for some people!  So is keeping your mobile phone right beside you at work preventing you from being productive?  It might be.

For those of you who are best friends with your phone, here are some easy suggestions to make your work hours a bit more industrious:

Don’t touch your phone during your peak productivity hours

When are you most efficient?  Schedule this time to put your phone out of reach, out of sight, or on Do Not Disturb.  This is your time to be “in the zone” and get your work done without unnecessary interruptions.

Stay off your phone at meetings and on conference calls

It’s tempting to multitask for sure, but it’s not constructive.  Our brains really can’t do two things at once very well.  Be in the moment and pay attention to those around you (or you may miss something important!).

Keep your downtime your downtime

Studies show that “renewal” time boosts work productivity (that’s why we NEED vacations!). So while you might think that answering late night emails is helpful to your job, it can lead to unnecessary stress and hurt your sleep patterns.  And, of course, less sleep is a productivity-killer for sure.

While our phones can be time savers for many things, they can also be big distractions.  Set it aside every once in a while and work wisely!

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