Does panic set in when the battery on your cellphone is low? People go to extraordinary lengths to recharge their battery. Last summer, a Broadway theatregoer was so desperate he climbed onto the stage before the show began to plug his phone into what appeared to be an electrical outlet (it was a fake). He was heckled by the audience and mocked by the stars of the show. Actor Mark Kudisch tweeted:
Dear general audience, an electrical socket that’s a part of the set of the play is NOT for you to charge your iPhone…just an FYI…
I bring this story up because it highlights how hyper-attuned we are to the battery indicator on our devices. Why aren’t we more attuned to our own battery?
When your phone has thirteen percent battery left, I bet you find the nearest outlet ASAP. But when you are running on empty, you just keep going. Most of the time you don’t even realize your battery is running dangerously low.
Here are a few indicators to alert you it is time to recharge:
1. Pay attention to your attention
After a solid stretch of productive work, do you suddenly find yourself compelled to check out the latest sports scores online or pay a visit to the vending machines? Are you having difficulty maintaining the focus and energy you applied to your work a half-hour ago?
2. Take note of your mood
Are you less optimistic about the outcome of your project than you were an hour into it? Has your excitement about tackling a knotty challenge shifted to frustration?
3. Assess your stamina
Do you feel like you’re running out of steam? That you’ve hit a brick wall?
4. Listen to your body
Do you suddenly have heartburn? A headache? What about back pain, dizziness, or a racing pulse?
Take time to recharge your battery so you can live a fully charged life.
I wish you all the best,
Dr. Samantha Boardman
