Nurturing the human animal

I was coaching someone who works in the software space and it became apparent that he wants to nurture the animal within.

To live BEYOND the screens. To take care of that part of him that wants to live, move, shout, hug, exercise, eat. Much more than being behind the screen for pretty much everything. For work, for socialising, for distraction.

This feeling is NOT foreign to me.

I am behind the screen a lot when I’m coaching clients, responding to clients, preparing and learning. Technically, I’m with people a LOT - so why complain?

But I still feel that strongly. I miss the human element. I miss using the rest of my body. I miss the messy, organic humanity in all this.

I felt the same way working for a company when I was in calls from 2-7pm all day. Being part of teams didn’t solve this for me. So I tell myself that it’s not because I’m coaching on my own.

I think I also miss slowing down. No back to backs. Maybe we’re not meant to live by a clock.

I sometimes wonder how at some point, the clock was that technology that distracted people, made them not in sync with their natural rhythms. Maybe one day a conversation used to end because it came to a close. Not, “omg we are coming to a close, next.”

I also know boundaries are needed in the profession and I’m not suggesting to challenge that. I do believe time management is necessary - but exhausting.

Now a mere clock is actually not so bad relatively. We have TVs, phones, laptops, digital watches - all dragging us from away from a natural human rhythm.

There’s so much unnatural about how we live. FaceTime calls. Whatsapps. All forms of technical connection.

Yet all this connection is competing with real world physical connection.

And of course all are blessing when your family and friends are away.

I guess I’m at: I hate it and love it at the same time.

I love the flexibility that it gives me. That I can go be with my family and keep my work. I’m so grateful for that.

But hate that it makes me work to be human on a day to day basis.

So then it leaves me with the question: how am I nurturing or taking care of my human animal? To make this more sustainable. to avoid the video call tunnels. to feel that I am living in this world and not in this online world.

Here are my commitments:

Interaction with Technology

Time spent in Online meetings

  • 1 hour break between every call? is this reasonable?

  • Max 4 hours of calls per day

  • 2 no call days per week

Checking my email

  • Maybe log out every time you log in? Makes checking it more thoughtful?

Checking LinkedIn / Social Media

  • Maybe log out every time you log in? Makes checking it more thoughtful?

Checking my phone

  • Do not place the phone where you can see it

Interaction with the real world

Working destination

  • On the no call days, work in coffee shops or public places like a library

Walks

  • Morning walks, mid day walks, after work walks - doesn’t matter the amount of time /matters that I am leaving the house

  • Go to parks. You’re lucky to live in a city with parks - so use that

Exercise

  • Group exercises - talk to people in class

Community

  • Stew Wednesday revival

  • Dinners

  • Weekend plans with people

  • German language learning - start that at some point f2f

What are yours?

Dina