Transforming Workplace Culture by Addressing Smartphone Distractions

Ever wonder what 75 days a year glued to your phone is costing you? 

That staggering figure—based on a 2024 study showing Americans spend an average of 5 hours and 16 minutes daily on their smartphones—reveals how deeply our devices dominate our lives. 

Enter Richard Simon and his provocative bestseller, Unplug: How to Break Up with Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life. It’s not just a guide; it’s a rallying cry for anyone trapped by the constant ping of notifications.

With Jonathan Haidt’s global bestseller exposing the harm smartphones inflict on children, many of us are now questioning whether our own device use serves us in every dimension of our personal and work lives. Even Eric Schmidt, former Chairman of Google (which created the Android phone) now urges his employees to avoid their devices at all costs so they can focus better on their jobs.

This conversation explores how to limit the harm our constant device use causes, and reclaim control. As a starting point, our smartphone obsession takes up 75 of our days a year and erodes our focus, relationships, and mental health. Ever been to a restaurant and seen couples staring at their phones instead of lost in conversation? Or in a critical meeting where attendees’ heads are buried in their screens, not the business at hand? Simon’s year-long phone detox, alongside stories from figures like Major League baseball star Nick Castellanos shows unplugging isn’t about disconnection—it’s about reconnecting with what matters.

This episode aligns with our focus on employee well-being and optimal performance, challenging leaders to model healthier habits and foster thriving workplaces.Simon shares how his year-long detox reshaped his life and offers lessons for leaders to boost their own well-being no to mention that of their teams’

Tune in to learn how unplugging can supercharge your leadership, deepen connections, and unlock your potential. We aim to return you to a richer, more present life.

The post Richard Simon: Why It’s Probably Time You Unplugged appeared first on Mark C. Crowley.