Business leaders spend a considerable portion of their time in meetings (one study suggests 80%). While meetings are surely not going away, given that we live in the Age of Distraction, it’s time to rethink how they’re facilitated. Think NewCo participants consistently tell us that switching to device free, outdoor arrangements (one of our favorite Work Hacks) has cut back on meeting times while also increasing overall efficiency and effectiveness. Before reserving a conference room for the next meeting, consider these reasons to ditch the smartphones and go outside:

• We know that being outside boosts creativity and promotes new thought patterns. We can expect to find innovative solutions to persistent challenges when we leave behind the environments that produced the problems in the first place.
• Device free meetings increase our focus on the matters at hand and keep everyone engaged with what’s actually happening. We’ve seen the outcomes of multitasking, it’s time to experience the profound difference of unitasking.
• Having room to roam means people can move around. Studies show that physical movement promotes mental activity, creativity and problem solving ability.
• While it’s only a mini retreat, taking the team out of the office is a great way to leave the daily grind behind. Silence the noise of the ordinary and watch the extraordinary appear.

Like we said at the start, we all know that changes to our routines, especially when they limit distractions, can lead to breakthrough moments. The question is, when are we actually going to make these changes? The time is now.