Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about digital exhaustion and mastering efficiency – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy

THE BIG TAKE

Do Nothing

How are your fatigue levels these days? For most of us, the constant stream of news is simply exhausting. Taken in stride with the rapid changes taking place in the global economy and systemic shifts in how we work, we can all be forgiven for feeling a little burnt out. As the UAE continues to re-open its economy and employees return to offices, it’s actually a great time to address burnout and productivity. We have a window to change how we approach work. Might as well take advantage of it. 

Over-productive: There have been a slew of self-help books published recently that confront our overreliance on technology and all things productivity. Celeste Headlee’s new book, Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving, is one of the finest. “The truth is, productivity is a by-product of a functional system, not a goal in and of itself. The question is not whether you are productive but what you are producing.” Here Headlee is echoing a sentiment that we have long held at Xische: when you start with the “why” of your business or workflow, the rest will follow.  

Simplicity: The notion that we should “do nothing” is a strong one for these difficult pandemic times. Despite our constant search for new ways to "hack" our bodies and minds for peak performance, Headlee writes, human beings are working more instead of less, living harder not smarter, and becoming more lonely and anxious. The solution is as simple as doing nothing. If we walk away from the problem or challenge, we can approach it again with new insight. Only then can we revert back to a different time when we had the space to think without the constant buzz of notifications. 

Shifting work culture: This recommendation is, of course, a tall order given the tech-infused pace of our lives. But there are strains of the idea we can and should incorporate into our workflow. Considering that many of us are still working from home, try introducing flexibility into our workdays. We work best when we allow for flexibility in our habits. Constantly pushing harder in all aspects of our lives is leaving us exhausted. Better to walk away and introduce variety in work and life. We have a unique opportunity thanks to Covid-19 to transform these patterns. The best response to the digital fatigue we all share right now might be to just do a little more nothing.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

This week, we’re asking you about nothing. When was the last time you “did nothing”? Get in touch across our social media channels @xische with your thoughts, feelings, and answers. Or drop us a line and just say hello.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances."

– Martha Washington

COVID19 STORIES

We are passionate about telling human stories. Now more than ever, those stories involve you. Covid19 Stories is a showcase of words, photos, and videos of our global community designed to celebrate shared experiences from this time of isolation. Powered by Empowering through, this exhibition is a dynamic and living testament to the historic moment we’re living through. Visit Covid19 Stories to share your story today.

OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK

Reframing growth: Discussion of the global economy these days is focused on Covid-19, trade war concerns, and other pressures on growth. But what if economists are getting it all wrong? In this archived piece we take a deep dive into our understanding of growth and pose a simple question: should wellness be the new GDP? 

Creating the internet: For most of their existence, social media companies have tried their best to stay away from content moderation. Leading platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have repeatedly argued that they can’t be the arbiters of truth or the editors of perceptions. That’s all changing now. Companies such as Twitter have started moderating content from major figures such as US President Donald Trump. This week, we explore how content moderation is a perfect opportunity for small states like the UAE to help define the internet we want.

A MESSAGE FROM DIGITAI

Artificial Intelligence can work for you. The pace of AI innovation is undeniable. With so many options to choose from, how can you be sure that you are making AI work for your needs? Discover what we’re doing at Digit Ai, a Xische company, to accelerate organisational capacity building that leverages AI and machine learning. Find solutions that make business sense and embrace the power of AI.

SPOTTED ELSEWHERE

The humble QR code: How often do you use a QR code? While it was once very handy and ubiquitous, the humble QR code seems to have fallen into relative tech obscurity. But not if you’re in South Korea. In order to track people going out at night amid the Covid-19 pandemic, South Korean establishments are asking patrons to scan QR codes to establish personal information. Not a bad use of an otherwise dated technology. 

The best character: Wouldn’t it be fun to have a realistic version of yourself in your favorite video game? Sadly the technology to create a realistic video game version of yourself is prohibitively expensive. This could soon change … for your dog. A new motion capture system can create digital avatars of dogs using a single camera. Not only could you soon choose your best friend as a character in Fortnight but the technology will have a major impact on veterinary care. What a time to be alive. 

QUICK HITS

• Why people are more honest when writing on their smartphones.

• Are we going cashless after Covid? 

• Location tracking and the Covid-19 pandemic.

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