Check out the New York Times for an eye-opening discussion about the impact of our love affair with electronic devices and the online world on how we think and live – First Steps to Digital Detox.
I was struck by this comment from Gary Small, professor of psychology and behavioral sciences at UCLA:
[W]e’re constantly scanning the environment for the next exciting bit of information — the next text message, IM, email, or even land-line phone call. That next ping or buzz or ring interrupts our focus and charges up the dopamine reward system as we anticipate something new and more exciting than the task at hand.
This results in our paying “partial continuous attention,” Small writes, and this tends to put our brains in a heightened state of stress and constant tension. “Once people get used to it, they tend to thrive on the perpetual connectivity. It becomes irresistible.”
One frightening result: We lose our ability to focus and to think deeply.
Small recommends 2 simple tactics:
- Practice focusing on one task at a time.
- Take regular breaks from the online world and tech gadgets.
Among others who weigh in on the topic are Nicholas Carr, author of the new book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to My Brain, and William Powers, author of Hamlet’s BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age, due out this month.
Marilee – this concept is not just negatively impacting me, but my husband, our animals (I am serious) and any fun I may be having. I would love more information that might help both Bob and I not feel guilty if we turn off the electrical intruders. I mean, here we declare bankruptcy, how can we not take cell business calls while we’re out biking? We do take the cell calls then. How would you advise us? If we miss these calls, we could be missing out on a new account. I’d respect your opinion highly.
Oh it’s true, it’s true! This winter I had no internet in the morning hours when I first awoke and instead of getting on line immediately, I read a passage from Pema Chodron, a poem by Mary Oliver and then painted a small watercolor of an event from the previous day. This went on for four months. But now, I’m back to the irresistible internet connection first thing in the morning. Ironically today I couldn’t wait to write to YOU! I’m a connection junkie. But the watercolors I did impact my brain more than the keypad, I think.
Emily – Yours is a perfectly wonderful illustration of how tuning out the internet (and its unfulfilled promise of connection) opens up space for a far-deeper and more meaningful connection, to ourselves, to poetry, to creativity, the unknown. I love the places that opened up for you in your off-line time. Why oh why is the Internet so irresistible, even in the face of actual lived experience?!! Thanks for commenting. Now go paint!