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Techie who became a farmer

8/29/2018

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Ramesh Mourthy worked for more than 15 years in software industry in the US and the UK, until he realized he was not happy with what he was doing and his life was feeling "too mechanical". He left his job of an identity architect in a big gaming company to start his own sustainable farming business in India. In the new episode of Consciously Digital podcast, Anastasia talks to Ramesh about slowing down in the increasingly fast world, his search for balance and why technology makes us rush.
Think of making a first step in finding a more balanced life? Check our events all around Europe.
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How to organize your guilt-free digital detox holidays

12/16/2015

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When was the last time you completely unplugged (and did it consciously, rather than having a panic attack about a discharged phone)? Sometimes we need to stop, so that we can finish the unfinished, think, make plans for the next year, be creative or simply be present with people we love. However, in the modern world not being connected has become a big luxury. Christmas break is a great legitimate time to allow your brain to have some rest from the excessive stimulation that online brings to our lives and process all information you’ve been feeding your brain with over the past months.

Here’s what to do to make your low-tech holidays successful, guilt-free and not suffer from the fear of missing out:

1. Have Fun and Get Physical
When on holidays, you suddenly have much more free time than usual, so make sure you know how you want to spend it. Plan and do as many fun and unusual things as you can, desirably with people you love. 


Our brain releases dopamine, the hormone of pleasure, when we discover new interesting things and gain social recognition. If your life and/or your holidays are boring, you will feel an urge to get your dopamine injection by posting some status update on social media, craving for likes. Make sure you’re happy and you won’t spend so much time online.

Also, dopamine gets released through any physical exercise (together with endorphins that instantly boost your mood), so the more time you spend on holidays exercising, the less tempted you’ll feel to go online.


2. Go Basic
Replace your smartphone with a basic phone with no internet. It won’t be scary as it’s only for a few days. If you can’t help taking pictures, bring along a separate camera or (less desirable) take your smartphone with you, but put the sim-card in your simple phone, so that you only use your smartphone as a camera.
You will feel far less tempted to go online if you don’t have a device with you.


Are you a true ninja? Go phone-free for the whole Christmas break! But remember to leave an autoresponder and a phone of the next of kin for any emergency situations, otherwise you may end up worried about the others most of the time.
 

3. Be Prepared and Organized 

Staying low tech means you will need to get more organized. Make sure to print out all your tickets, hotel bookings, train schedule, local maps and things to do, write down all phones you can possibly need incl. emergency, local taxis.


Put an autoresponder on your email saying you will not be picking up messages and asking people to email you back with the same email after the XX.XX.XXXX if it’s important (this way, you will save yourself from browsing through thousands of emails upon your return).
 

4. Plan Your Communication 
Agree on specific timing of catching up with your close ones. If they are not around and you are waiting to hear from them, agree that you can be reached for instance, twice a day between 9 and 10 in the morning and in the evening.
This way, you’ll make sure that they know you are ok and you are still social, without being distracted by other things. The same is valid for any work-related commitments – if you are still planning to work, tell your bosses/clients that you can be reached during a certain time interval only.


5. Segment Incoming Information 
If you still need to be in touch, you can create a temporary email filter, so that you only get emails into your inbox from people you are expecting to hear from. Or you can set up an sms notification, so that when an important email from your boss arrives which you need to respond instantly, you get a text message on your phone.
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Have a Merry low-tech Christmas and make the most exciting plans for 2016!
 

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Experiment: digital detox for charity

12/12/2015

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This is a guest blog written for Consciously Digital by Liberty

​​When five employees of Liberty, a digital marketing agency based in Cardiff, decided to undertake a 12-day digital detox to raise money for the homelessness charity Shelter, a few eyebrows were raised by both colleagues and friends. After all, when they aren’t tweeting and blogging online, they’re usually found with their nose in their phones or browsing, shopping and gaming using the internet. 
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Left to right: Philip, Siobhan, Joe, Carys and Rosella from Liberty
The rules were:
 
  • No personal internet use – no email, streaming or shopping
  • No social media – no communicating with friends on social networks and WhatsApp
  • No mobile phones – no texts or calls except in emergencies

Here’s what Philip, Siobhan, Joe, Carys and Rosella (L-R) gained thanks to their journey:
 

Better sleep. “I’m sleeping better, getting up more easily in the mornings and really enjoying the company of the people I’m with rather than the people I’m connected to online”, shares Siobhan. “I definitely feel like my head is a bit clearer”, Philip agrees. 

Feeling of freedom. “I’ve enjoyed the lack of a screen. Working in digital marketing sometimes it feels as though you’re doomed to see the world through a screen by default”, says Rosella.
 

Becoming more polite. “It’s really noticeable when people are sitting there staring at their phones when you aren’t doing the same. It makes you realise how rude it actually is“, Siobhan says. “Realizing that I am probably one of those phone-starers that Siobhan talks about wasn’t a nice realisation, but if this thing has made me more sociable I’m well up for that”, Philip adds.
 

Increased productivity. “My productivity has increased at work and breaks have become shorter as a result of not chatting on my phone.”


 
What they struggled with
 
However, detox wasn’t that easy. “I enjoyed nothing about it and soon gave up!” says Joe. A few other things that were challenging:


Lack of communication seemed by far the biggest obstacle for a detox. “We take for granted how simple it is to speak to people across the world. Suddenly I wasn’t able to speak to a lot of my friends and family who live away from me. That was very strange”, shares Philip.
“Yeah, I failed because I couldn’t speak to my parents abroad – and also I am currently selling my house and couldn’t go without the internet during the process,” seconds Joe. “The lack of constant daily interaction with friends and family on WhatsApp really made me sadder, particularly in the first week,” Carys adds.

Requirement to be more organized. “You also have to organise yourself better, which isn’t the easiest. I’ve not been able to tell friends when I’m running late, which happens a lot…“, Carys says.
 

Lack of entertainment. “I’m a bit of a music snob and not being able to listen to my favourites on demand on Spotify has been vexing,” Rosella says. “I’ve also really missed Netflix”, Siobhan adds.
 

Shopping. “I can just about handle a supermarket without having a meltdown, but buying things in real life has been quite difficult considering it’s the festive season”, Siobhan shares.
 


Will this change anything in the long-term?
Rosella – “It would be great to focus more on single activities rather than always multi-tasking. With a smartphone in your hand it often feels like you’re looking after a needy pet”.

The notifications, the endless group chats, the news, the cat GIFS you’re missing out on if you go a couple of hours without it… It’s exhausting.”

Philip – “I’ve enjoyed taking a break from social media, but I will go back to it – because I do miss keeping up to date with what’s going on in the world. Nevertheless, I do hope it won’t take up as much of my time as it used to. The same is true for my smartphone usage.

Siobhan – “I’m genuinely considering giving up social media. I haven’t missed it at all and feel like I’ve been so much more productive and just downright happier without it. I’m also really tempted to go back to a non-smartphone, but I think that would take more adjusting to.

Smartphones are useful for things like maps etc., but I managed before group threads and Spotify mobile, so I could probably manage again!”

Philip – “For me, the detox was generally a wake-up call that highlighted how I use the internet to do nearly everything I like doing. From finding recipe ideas and streaming music and films to keeping up to date with current affairs and football news, it certainly affected how I do things day to day. 

You can read more about Liberty’s Digital Detox or donate to Shelter Cymru on its blog today.

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This is how everyone should have their meetings!

11/25/2015

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This is a po​p-up ball pool in West London (which alas is now closed). An awesome place to have your corporate meetings and presentations. Because technology is ultimately created to make our life more fun and easy, and allow flexibility, and not make us chained to our working desks! By the way, having fun helps you process the material much better!
Share if you agree ;))
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Photocredit: The Independent, Time Out
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    Anastasia Dedyukhina is a professional coach and a pioneer of the Consciously Digital™ concept. 
    Having spent over 10 years and numerous hours in front of the screen promoting the benefits of digital for top media and advertising brands and witnessing hundreds of overstressed colleagues, Anastasia concluded she needed to change her lifestyle if she wanted to remain healthy. 
    She gave up her smartphone and now trains people on  conscious use of digital technologies and claims she has never felt so productive and happy. 
    You can learn more about her path and background on her website, www.anastasia.tips.

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  • Home
  • About
    • Founder's story
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    • Training for coaches (NEW!)
    • How to be a digital minimalist
    • Kids and tech: program for parents
    • Email marketing in an age of digital distraction
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    • Are you a digital addict?
    • How much time do you really spend online?
    • Are you addicted to Facebook?
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