Reflectiveness: The Missing Link between Digital Mindfulness and Mindful Use of Digital Technology

The unprecedented reliance on digital technology has its costs; while productivity overall is on the rise, so is digital fatigue. This study explores how digital mindfulness can help reduce digital fatigue and increase digital wellness without compromising productivity. After theorizing digital mindfulness, this study introduces reflectiveness as a mediating variable between digital mindfulness and mindful use of digital technology (mindful action). It is argued that mindfulness, in the absence of reflectiveness, only leads to a temporary state of mind (short-term alertness or awareness) without a maintainable effect on mindful actions. However, reflectiveness allows employees to effectively analyze their relationships with digital technology. This mental process can result in knowledge integration and developing new perspectives that are essential for mindful action over time. Therefore, we postulate that digital mindfulness when linked to self-initiated reflection on technology use can reduce digital fatigue and increase digital wellness and ultimately improve the productive use of technology through mindful action.