Disconnect to Reconnect

Interns & New Hires Disconnecting

God bless you Millennials! Your parents may complain that the kids never phone—heck, you rarely write emails containing full sentences, preferring to text instead—but you Millennials may be the generation that will return some sanity to our smart phone and tablet use.

Increasingly, I hear reports that members of the generation now entering the workplace want to periodically disconnect. Opting to do so may be one of the smartest decisions Millennials make. Studies consistently report that people heavily engaged in Internet use demonstrate difficulty in engaging with others. High connectivity further encourages Internet users to “surf and grab” the first bit of information they find. Too often, users fail to ask critical questions that would reveal whether a posting is fact or fiction.

In response, some Millennials have begun a movement to encourage their peers, colleagues and parents to periodically disconnect and instead focus on the here and now. Among them is Levi Felix, the 28-year old co-founder of Digital Detox, who says, “My goal now is to connect people . . . . There’s always going to be more media, more to do outside of where you are. The only moment that matters is right now.” (As reported in “Coming Clean at Camp, New York Times, 07/07/2013.)

This week, summer associates, interns and new hires should develop a new habit of periodically disconnecting. First, confirm your employer’s expectations regarding connectivity. Then, if you’re not expected to be connected 24/7, commit to turning off all of your electronic gadgets for at least one hour per day. Use that time to reconnect with someone personally, giving that person 100% of your new found attention.

What Do You Need to Know?

When you're starting work, it's important to disconnect to reconnect.

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