ARTICLE SUMMARY: Being a UX designer takes a fair amount of work and a big imagination. We constantly take courses, upgrade skills, read a lot and network to see what new ideas and trends are on the horizon.

Sometimes the hardest thing is to find inspiration. Let’s face it, coming up with new ideas to solving problems day in and day out can be frustrating and nerve racking. There are enough distractions without being tethered to your cell phone all day.

In Fiona Lee’s “If you want to become a better UX designer, put down your phone” she talks about how in this day and age that maybe it’s time to take a break from your cell phone and pay attention to the world around you. The reason is you’ll be

  • Cultivating present-moment awareness
  • Practicing active listening without judgment
  • Discover and learn new things

There are skills and insights that you can not pickup or develop watching YouTube. In a world full of distractions taking the time to turn off the cell phone is probably one of the best things you can do for your mental health and your creativity. While cell phones have become a necessity evil, that does not mean you have to be on it all day every day.

In closing Fiona Lee tells us “I know how difficult it can be to put down our phones. In today’s world, it is our means of communication, work, knowledge, entertainment and more. But I have experienced how being fully engaged with the world around us can enhance our awareness of the present moment, listen actively without judgment, and discover new insights to make us better UX designers.”

This is a great article, and not just for designers.

Let us know what you think in the comments.