'Her Way' is a weekly column penned by Writer Emma Castle and takes a look into how women in business are pushing for progress and making things happen.

You could be suffering from 'Always On Syndrome' - a combination of FOMO, hyper-adrenal alertness and an unhealthy attachment to your devices. 

So how can you learn to switch off when your default setting is ON ON ON? And what are the consequences if you don't create boundaries?

Technology detox

Psychologist Kirsten Bouse from Perth Psychology Collective says learning to switch off from technology is about 'removing the excess'. 

"If you are running a business, there are things you need to do. It's about knowing what works for you. For example, I do my social media in the morning and when I need to focus, I will put my phone on silent in another room and turn off the notifications on my computer," she says. 

"If you get agitated when your phone is not with you, that's a really good sign that you need to learn to do without it," she says. 

Bouse suggests taking the apps off your phone and using it just as a phone, putting your phone away for a whole weekend, going camping in a mobile blackspot or simply going out. She says, "When my kids and I are home together, we all hang out on our phones but when we go out, we tend not to."

Social boundaries

Ask yourself: How do I really want to spend my time? What's important?

Bouse says that there's no getting around the fact that relationships need nourishing but what you can do is say what works for you. 

"If you're having a crazy week, ask your friend to come to your house instead of going out. Different life stages come with different demands. Friends having their first baby need different things to friends who have school-aged children," she says. 

When it comes to client interaction, Bouse says that it's good to be clear about when you're available and create some rules around contact - ie text if it's super urgent or use a scheduling program so that your emails aren't time-stamped 3am so clients don't know you're replying at that time.

"You're more than your business. Work 'bleed' will start to permeate your whole life and will start to impact your relationships," says Bouse. 

Mental boundaries

What about when it's your own mind that you can't control?

Holistic Healing Practitioner Renee Gould from Peace by Piece Holistic Healing says that switching off your mind isn't actually possible. 

"I feel it is more about softening or tuning out of the loud, busy chaotic monkey mind chatter, and consciously choosing to meditate and place our focus and awareness into tuning into our higher mind/higher self.

"It helps to imagine we are like radio waves; that there are radio waves everywhere, all the time, and we use the dial on our radio to tune into the station that we want to hear. 

"We can use meditation to tune out of our lower monkey mind and into the voice of the higher self, informing us of our wants and needs in regards to optimal health and the actions we need to take," says Gould. 

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Recommended Reading: 4 Ways To A Better Work Life Balance

Recommended Reading: Tips To Balance Work And Family

Recommended Viewing: log in to mumsandco.com.au to view "Your Soul Matters - Mental Health and Wellbeing"

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