In the world of technology, the offline mode is a method for using a service with no Internet connection. Every equipment, your smart phone, your smart lamp, your smart television, etc. have an offline mode. You can enable the offline mode anytime because you want to save on cellular data or because you are on the plane for example. And it is not just the offline mode. There is the sleep mode and the turn off button. You cannot have your smart tv on 24h a day or use your washing machine 24h a day.

And there is the issue of downtime. Downtime is the time during which the machinery or equipment is not operating. Unplanned downtime creates productivity issues, however every machine needs a planned downtime to allow for planned maintenance. Planned downtime for maintenance is particularly important for keeping critical assets healthy.

Now, you either wonder what this has to do with stress management or you already get it. So, let me ask the critical question. Do you plan downtime for yourself? Do you have an offline mode? You might answer “yes I do when I am sleeping!” But is this enough?

Imagine the following situation. You sleep for five hours a day and in the other 19 hours you are in an uptime and online mode. You come home from work and you are still available on the phone. You are having dinner and you are scrolling on Facebook. You keep on checking emails 10 minute before going to bed. You even answer them or turn on your PC to verify an important info for tomorrow’s meeting.

What is the result? The glass of stress we discussed in the previous article keeps on filling and the danger of overflow becomes apparent. You don’t manage your stress and you become more susceptible to stress-related diseases. Is this worth it? Probably no, right?

So, what would you do to change this situation? How would you plan a downtime mode for yourself? What would that be?

In our productivity coaching program we also focus on stress management and methods like the one discussed in this article.