Katelijn Nijsmans

"Unplug to re-connect – Learn to disconnect"

Biography

Katelijn is the founder of How's Work. As a neuropsychologist and business expert, she has been guiding organizations in their search for workable work for more than 15 years. She is also the content coordinator of the postgraduate program “Mental Well-being at Work” at PXL University of Applied Sciences, an international keynote speaker, and co-author of the books “De Breinbalans” (The Brain Balance) and “In het echt ben ik veel leuker” (In Real Life, I'm Much More Fun).

Summary

The "always-on(line) culture" of remote work, coupled with our novelty-seeking brain, makes it harder to truly disconnect from work. We all find ourselves staying "on" at times when a deadline looms, but being constantly connected can also greatly impact our productivity and wellbeing.

From overstimulation to concentration issues or even burnout, the consequences of always being on have a significant impact on our productivity. It's easy to think: "Alright, let's get rid of it!" Digital detox, perhaps? Of course, it's a good idea to sometimes simply put away your smartphone (especially before bedtime) or consciously scroll less aimlessly. However, don't let your actions stop there.

In this keynote, we explore the 3 forms of disconnection (digital, psychological, and emotional) that help you focus (during work) and mentally disconnect from work (outside of work)