How To Strike a Balance Between Benefits and Drains of Today’s Technology

by Michelle Cederberg, 2025 Supply Summit & Showcase Speaker

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing world, technology is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether it’s tracking inventory, automating customer communications, or managing a hybrid workforce, digital tools are deeply woven into the fabric of modern business.

In the work you do, building agricultural tools that power productivity on farms across North America, technology has opened doors to unprecedented efficiency. Yet, many in the industry are facing an uncomfortable truth: the same tools that help us work faster may also be wearing us down.

Welcome to the age of Techno Stress—and the growing need to strike a healthier digital balance.

Innovation at a Cost: From AI-powered scheduling systems to real-time design collaboration platforms, FEMA member companies are embracing technology at every level of their operations. These tools cut down repetitive tasks and allow teams to focus on strategy, customer support, and product development.

Remote work and cloud-based collaboration—once rare in the manufacturing sector—are becoming standard practice. Teams are connecting more easily across time zones, and distributors are accessing product specs and sales tools in real time.

But even as productivity rises, so does the sense of constant urgency. Notifications ping. Emails pile up. Apps multiply. The digital tools meant to make work easier often disrupt focus and fracture our attention.

The Numbers Behind Digital Distraction: It’s not just a feeling—it’s a measurable problem. The average worker loses 581 hours per year to digital distractions, with each interruption taking over 23 minutes to recover from. That’s nearly a third of the work year lost to mental reboots.

And the cost? In the U.S. alone, businesses lose up to $650 billion annually to digital inefficiencies. Canadian businesses, including many within FEMA’s membership, are not immune to these losses.

But it’s not just time that’s lost. Productivity drains carry neurological and physical consequences as well.

When Digital Overload Hits the Brain and Body: Too much screen time pushes the brain into overdrive. The prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for decision-making—becomes overworked, leading to mental fatigue, poor judgment, and reduced creativity.

“Simultaneously, the dopamine system gets hijacked by the quick hits of notifications and updates. The result? An endless loop of checking, refreshing, and reacting… instead of focusing, building, and innovating.”

Add in elevated cortisol levels—our stress hormone—and you’ve got a recipe for burnout. Over time, this constant low-grade stress erodes energy, enthusiasm, and motivation. And on the physical side, there’s more: ‘tech neck’, headaches, eye strain, and disrupted sleep from too much blue light exposure.

How to Reclaim Focus: The good news? You don’t have to ditch your digital toolbox to feel better at work. With a few smart shifts, you can keep the benefits of technology while dialing down the noise.

Here are six ways to strike that balance:

• Turn off non-essential notifications. Set specific check-in times for email and messaging platforms to avoid constant interruptions.

• Time-block your workday. Use techniques like the Pomodoro Method to create windows of deep focus, followed by short recovery breaks.

• Take intentional tech breaks. Step away from the screen. A walk around the shop floor or five minutes with a notepad can help reset your brain.

• Establish screen-free zones. Breakrooms and meeting spaces can be used to foster connection—without screens.

• Audit your digital tools. If a platform isn’t streamlining work, it’s adding to your cognitive load. Less is more.

• Support physical wellness. Encourage posture resets and movement throughout the day. Use blue light filters and prioritize analog options when practical.

Digital tools are here to stay. The key is intentional use—leveraging what works, limiting what doesn’t, and remembering that the people behind the projects are your most important asset.

How is your company managing digital stress? Share your strategies with FEMA at News@FarmEquip.org and together, let’s build a healthier, more focused industry.

Michelle Cederberg is a Hall of Fame Speaker and Health and Productivity Expert who has captivated audiences for over 20 years.

As opening keynote at the FEMA 2025 Supply Summit & Showcase she shared her Success-Energy Equation message and presented an eye-opening session on Future-Proofing Productivity, which this article is related to.

To learn more about Michelle’s keynotes and coaching visit MichelleCederberg.com.