However, many of us may fail to realize remaining in a constant state of connection may actually negatively impact our effectiveness. It may seem counter-intuitive at first, but I strongly advocate putting oneself in an unplugged or unconnected state on a regular basis to improve one’s effectiveness.  My argument for this position will take two paths. First, what happens to the brain in an unconnected state, and second, my recent experience summiting Kilimanjaro where the terrain forced me to unplug against my wishes.

Our brains process an extraordinary amount of information throughout the day. In fact, over time and in response to changing forms of stimulus, our brains have actually learned to process information differently. For example, today’s Gen Y-ers have an uncanny ability to multi-task at an effective rate far greater than those of us in the early Gen X category. Yet, for all of us, our brains need downtime away from the barrage of stimulus, which includes email, text messages and meetings. When we give our brains time to rest, our brains process, solidify and move information into long-term memory. If we fail to give our brains this downtime, the opposite occurs and we deprive ourselves of certain, clear benefits.  Our brain performs this function while we sleep, take a long walk on the beach or climb a mountain well outside of cell phone range. 

I have read a number of books and articles and attended lectures on the value of sleep and the brain. In fact, one of the world’s foremost authorities on sleep and the brain, Dr. James Maas, serves on the faculty at Cornell University, and I have sat in his audience on numerous occasions. I listened to all evidence and I studied the topic, but I never actually practiced pro-active downtime until I summited Kilimanjaro with 11 very close friends in March of 2013.
On the morning of March 13, 2013, 12 of us and 43 porters and guides stood at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro ready to start a seven day trek to the summit of a 19,341-foot mountain. We heard we could receive a cell phone signal for nearly all seven days, so many of us came armed with cell phones and tablets ready to communicate with the rest of the world every step of the way. But, guess what, no signal, except sporadically during the early days of the trek. Once we realized our phones and tablets did nothing more than add weight to our packs, we shut it all and lived like the old days: we talked, we discussed, we debated and we challenged each other with useless pieces of trivia – and we loved it! We didn’t check our email, we didn’t use Google to validate the accuracy of someone’s point and at night we sat around the table in the mess tent, sipped tea, and enjoyed one another’s company. And, we’re better human beings for having done so.  Personally, my head cleared, I didn’t worry about the affairs of my company (having a great team helped here), and I exercised my brain, all without my technology playing a supporting role.