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# Silent retreat – constant communication wears you down
- URL: https://www.livain.com/blog/silent-retreat-constant-communication-wears-you-down/
- Published: 2019-04-16T08:10:06.000Z
- Updated: 2019-04-16T08:12:11.000Z
- Author: Remco Livain
- Tags: Entrepreneurship

I can fully relate to the fact that you need peace of mind sometimes. We live in a world in which we are subjected to constant triggers, and we are always asked to be available.

For those who work in tech, you’ll know that your phone/laptop or tablet is never far away. You are always on standby.

I need to force myself to turn off all notifications settings. This is the only way I can be in control of my own day. I need to be able to decide when and where I want to check my messages.

## Silent mode

As an example, I got some messages on Slack yesterday, but I was unable to answer them because I was in a workshop all day. This morning I started to receive the first nervous messages already regarding the fact that I hadn’t answered yet.

I think many people can relate to that. I have become worse and worse in answering my WhatsApp messages and slack messages. This is simply due to the fact that I don’t want to answer every single message I received straight away. I simply can’t.

I have turned off my notifications (on my phone and laptop) along time ago already. I know that I need to be in control of when I answer which requests.

## Call me?

If it is really urgent my closest colleagues and friends will know that they simply need to pick up the phone and give me a call.

In fact, it’s interesting to see that I have started to treat instant messages as emails.

Nobody can and wants to be on call 24/7\. Maybe meditation helps. Yet, I also think we need to teach each other that we cannot constantly cry for each other’s attention.

Maybe I’ll spend my next holidays at a meditation retreat, too. 🙂

> Silent mode: Why the stars of Silicon Valley are turning to silent meditation retreats https://www.fastcompany.com/90334124/from-hacking-the-mind-to-punishing-ennui-techs-brightest-are-taking-to-silent-retreats?partner=feedburner&utm\_source=feedburner&utm\_medium=feed&utm\_campaign=feedburner+fastcompany&utm\_content=feedburner