Real Outcomes Tailored for You

Case Study

7 WAYS TECHNOLOGY IS KILLING YOUR EFFICIENCY

Posted on , in LATEST NEWS and INSIGHTS, by

Is technology working for you or against you?

We live in the age of computers; whether it’s for work or leisure, screens constantly attract (and distract) our attention. But is our addiction to technological advancement making us more productive? Probably not. In fact, many studies have proven that technology is killing your efficiency as well as your ability to focus.

It’s time to start drawing the line between being productive and multitasking ourselves into vicious cycles of wasted time. In the right environment, team building provides a powerful tool to combat and overcome these bad habits. But before we help you tackle underwhelming production, let’s examine why, and how, technology is killing your efficiency.

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS KILLING YOUR EFFICIENCY

The Guardian recently published an eye-opening article called “Why the Modern World is Bad for Your Brain.” Here are the top seven takeaways:

1. THE COGNITIVE COST OF MULTITASKING

A neuroscientist at MIT has found that rapidly switching between tasks has a long-term cognitive cost. Although we don’t initially see it, it can build up over time, causing memory loss and inability to concentrate. Doing too much at once leads us to ignore our essential tasks. It also creates the illusion that we’re accomplishing more than we are.

2. OVERSTIMULATION

Multitasking produces an abundance of the stress hormone, cortisol, and the “fight-or-flight” hormone, adrenaline. These extra hormones lead to overstimulation which can cloud your judgment and make it harder to concentrate.

technology is killing your efficiency
Technology could be killing your efficiency by throwing off your concentration and impairing your cognitive abilities.

3. SELF-SABOTAGING YOUR ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE

You can become addicted to multitasking in a harmful, self-sabotaging way. That’s because multi-tasking stimulates the release of dopamine. Your brain feels rewarded for losing focus, making it harder to concentrate the more you multitask.

4. INABILITY TO FOCUS

Mobile phones have created rising expectations for constant availability. Email pings and instant messages consistently divide our attention and damage our ability to concentrate on singular tasks. This trend has also contributed to increased levels of stress.

5. COGNITIVE LOSS

Glenn Wilson, Professor of Psychology at London’s Gresham College, conducted a study that came to this conclusion:

 “… cognitive losses from multitasking are even greater than the cognitive losses from pot‑smoking.”

6. LEARNING MALFUNCTIONS

Stanford’s Neuroscientist, Russ Poldrack, has discovered that if you try to absorb new information while multitasking, it goes to the wrong part of your brain. Thus, learning is more difficult, and new ideas are harder to retrieve.

7. RISING STRESS HORMONES AND AGGRESSION

Switching tasks due to an overwhelming amount of notifications can create more anxiety and raise cortisol stress hormones in the brain. This buildup of stress often leads to aggressive behavior as well as impulsive decisions. If you stay on task, your brain uses less energy than when it’s multitasking. Staying focused also reduces the brain’s need for glucose and eliminates unhealthy sugar cravings.

HOW TO REGAIN YOUR TEAM’S EFFICIENCY

Research has shown that team building activities are a panacea for boosting cognitive abilities as well as efficiency.

Team building activities that involve exercise is an excellent way to improve your staff’s problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. According to Psychology Today:

“Sweat is like WD-40 for your mind. It lubricates the rusty hinges of your brain and makes your thinking more fluid. Exercise allows your conscious mind to access fresh ideas that are buried in the subconscious.”

Key benefits of team building activities include:

  • Team building enhances patience, problem-solving, and creativity
  • Teams develop their critical-thinking skills through open discussions
  • The brain is trained to analyze problems in new ways
  • It creates an environment where others can take risks and depend on the support of their peers
  • These activities help develop an active consideration of different viewpoints

 

UTBPIC1
Leave technology behind with an offsite team building event.

SUMMING UP

At Unique Team Building, we can help you and your team overcome the pitfalls of technology and reclaim your efficiency. We offer a wide range of specialized team building packages that include outdoor educational experiences as well as indoor challenges. We also offer customized programs that are designed to give you long-lasting results. Contact us to unlock your team’s potential.

Enquire Now

Enquire Now
Free consultation

As Seen On

Our Happy Clients

About Us

We transcend corporate barriers to create a feeling of belonging and appreciation.

Our tailored programs are unique, because we’re experts in Outdoor Education, Travel, Photography and all things fun!

Curious? For a quick, easy quote…

Testimonials

    Array
  • UDU changed our lives! They took a bunch of lawyers under their wing and a long way out of our comfort zone, on a tailor-made weekend experience that included canoeing, trekking, climbing, swimming…

    - Michael - Sydney

  • Our team building weekend away with the UDU crew in North Sydney was an absolute fun fest. We were shown a very spectacular side of Sydney, and were thoroughly entertained by our gracious and very…

    - Nat - Melbourne

  • We just spent a wonderful weekend for our yearly team building retreat with Andy and “Dad” and I couldn’t recommend UDU more highly! From team building sessions, games, hiking, dolphin swimming…

    - Penny - Singapore

  • We had the most amazing time with UDU in the Royal National Park, thank you to Andy, Lex, Dee, Dave, Ken, ‘Dad’ and Ann. Everything was so well organised and such good fun. The food was delicious…

     

    - Laila - Ireland

  • UDU delivered in spades and worked closely with us to put together a secret programme together that would tick all the boxes. There were some fun team building exercises woven into the first day…

    - Mia - Sydney

  • Loved everything about this retreat. Andy and the rest of the guides where very lovely and knew a lot about the national park. They show you some pretty cool places and get you involved in some cool activities…

    - Jayne - Sydney

  • Andy was awesome! The food was tasty, the crew were fun and the whole experience was fantastic. I will do this again the next time I am in Sydney. Wonderful time!

     

    - Sophia - California

  • Incredible experience!!!I really enjoyed Garry’s insightful commentary, his historical and scientific anecdotes were very fascinating, on top of that he was funny! Mal the (cute) photographer was so patient with us…

    - Alice - Sydney

  • A great way to unwind, soak up the sun and the splendour of nature and explore the luscious beauty of the Australian bush. If you’re a city slicker, leave the concrete jungle for the real one, just for one day…

     

    - Fiona - Sydney

  • Fantastic experience. I would recommend this trip to everyone. Andy, Gary, Jon and Scott were wonderful. I loved sleeping on the beach and waking up to an awesome sunrise. The night photography was so much fun…

    - Steph - Brisbane

  • A really magical experience. Nothing like it, totally unique. It was very well organised and lots of fun. Loved it !!

    - Lisa - Sydney

  • Such a top night! Every entertaining evening. .the photos turned out AWEEEESOME!. 😀 go the light wars!!…

    - Deesh - Sydney

  • Brand new and exciting experience with plenty of moonlite adventures. All delivered with a frendliness and passion second to none. There was the good old fashioned story telling, plenty of good food, and…

     

    - Warren - Sydney