Ah, digital sobriety… Yes, in principle, but in practice? 💡 Between our overflowing inboxes, constant messages, and virtual meetings… it's not always easy to make this sobriety a reality. But rest assured, the team We Are COM He comes to your aid and shares his 10 commandments for greater moderation. simulation🤓 Let's search for the perfect balance between well-being and productivity.
Digital sobriety: the communicator's commandments
#1 – You will disconnect electronic devices
Are we stating the obvious? Perhaps, but far too many electronic devices are still left on, or in standby mode, when we leave the office. To save energy, nothing is more effective than turning off your computer, your printer, the power strips under your desk… turn everything off! And when you do use your devices, don't hesitate to adjust the screen brightness; every little bit helps.
👉 And to go further? Invest in low-energy computer monitors or smart chargers to limit overconsumption of electricity when your devices remain in standby mode.
#2 – You will organize the emails
Email is polluting. We'd love to tell you to boycott your email inbox, but that's simply impossible; especially since we'd like to continue counting you among our regular readers. newsletterSo how do you reduce the carbon footprint of your emails? By managing them effectively. Carefully organize your inbox, create folders, use filters, and above all, keep only the ones you need. Pretty smart!
To avoid unnecessary clutter, regularly delete your processed messages (those that won't end up in an "important" folder) and unsubscribe from newsletters useless and other content Advertisers that don't interest you anymore. Furthermore, it's worth repeating: from an environmental perspective, moving unwanted emails to your spam folder is pointless, as it remains a storage space. Remember to unsubscribe before permanently deleting them.
👉 For further ? Don't leave your inbox open all day. Schedule times to disconnect: this will help your concentration and prevent your computer from constantly checking your email client. Unless it's an emergency, many emails don't require immediate attention. So learn to disconnect by separating your digital and non-digital tasks. Your eyes and your mind will thank you.
To illustrate all our arguments, we invite you to watch Orange's educational film, on the occasion of their 2016 campaign E-cleaning day », yet more relevant than ever.
#3 – You will prioritize people
Save time while reducing your carbon footprint—it's possible. Whenever the opportunity arises, prioritize face-to-face meetings and discussions. Real interactions are more enjoyable and, above all, far more effective than endless video conferences or incessant email exchanges, especially between colleagues on the same floor of the same building.
👉 For further ? Do your colleagues live on the other side of the world? Opt for phone calls, or even instant messaging; it will always be more efficient and less polluting than an email (even if an email is itself much less polluting than a plane ticket, you might say!). 😊
#4 – You will rethink the supports
Today, information overload is the bane of businesses. And this phenomenon isn't limited to the digital world. Be mindful of your paper printing as well. Limit it as much as possible.
When printing a document is really necessary, opt for black and white, consider using simple fonts to avoid wasting more ink than necessary, and of course, print double-sided.
👉 For further ? Limit the time you spend on online media and Social MediaSelect reliable and relevant sources to avoid any confusion. Finally, to monitor information while offline, simply download the content in PDF format and then delete it after reading.
#5 – Smart storage, you will practice
Sort through your online files and remember to regularly delete those you no longer need. Archiving and then deleting unused documents will free up storage space on your computer, which is good news for both you and your computer. Our tip: set aside an hour each month to do your digital cleanup.
If you're short on time, consider using sustainable storage solutions. Opt for services such as...an accommodation online which have a responsible policy: renewable energies, recycling of computer equipment, etc.
👉 For further ? It is also possible to use cleaning tools to optimize your storage system. This solution removes unwanted files without risking damage to your important files.
Digital sobriety: the commandments of communication
#1 – You will reconsider email marketing
In communication, doing without theemailing It's not feasible; but reconsidering it is! For greater efficiency, start by reducing the size of your content (especially images) and any attachments. Use compression software to reduce the size of the files you send. Also, pay close attention to the preview thumbnails of your videos. The larger they are, the longer the email will take to load, and therefore, the more electricity will be consumed.
👉 For further ? Why not encourage recipients to unsubscribe from your communications if they no longer wish to receive them? To do this, simply schedule a re-engagement campaign. It's also an effective way to clean up your mailing lists and keep only the best recipients: your super readers. 😉
#2 – You will encourage sharing
Encourage your team to share file links (rather than creating multiple copies of the same file) by using collaborative project management tools. This will save energy, conserve storage space, and, most importantly, eliminate the need for 24 unnecessary versions of the same document.
Also, prioritize sharing files in open and interoperable formats: PDF, PNG, OpenDocu, etc. This way, they are accessible to everyone, without requiring the download of yet another specific software program.
👉 For further ? Use online link-sharing services, rather than sending your files directly to the various platforms. such as internal or messaging services. Again, this avoids copying while having a positive impact on energy savings.
#3 – You will rationalize social media
Does your business need to be present on EVERY social media platform? Rethink your strategy and streamline your online presence. Focus only on the platforms that are truly strategically useful to your priority audiences. Similarly, don't post constantly; prioritize quality over quantity. A smart idea for your followers and for the planet.
👉 For further ? Not investing in every social media platform is good. Not having multiple accounts on the same platform is better. Why have three Twitter accounts? If you can't answer that question, you know what you need to do. 😊
#4 – You will redefine data analysis
Analyze your data and measure your performance responsibly, using eco-friendly tools, especially those committed to reducing their carbon footprint. Above all, ensure you collect ONLY the data necessary for your evaluation. In other words, don't collect excessive data; limit yourself to what truly contributes to analyzing your objectives, defined beforehand at the launch of your communication campaign.
👉 For further ? By conducting regular and targeted data analysis, you can track your progress and adapt your communication efforts in real time. A second advantage? This will prevent you from unnecessarily overloading your future performance metrics with digital resources. Communicating more responsibly always comes down to organization.
#5 – And you will never forget to communicate, it's your job!
Finally, COMMUNICATE! 📣 Digital sobriety should no longer be an abstract concept. As communicators, we have a duty to alert, raise awareness, keep informed, and support employees towards greener productivity. We are the spokespeople for our companies' responsible transition, so let's communicate relentlessly.
♻️ With that, the We Are COM team wishes you much digital sobriety and encourages you to consult its TOP responsible communication books.
