Our digital lifestyle adversely affects brain function. It’s no surprise the new era of smartphones is ruining our memory and attention span. Now we have a shorter attention span than a goldfish, we lose our focus after just 8 seconds. Here’s how to mellow some of the negative affects your phone addiction has upon you.
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More and more people have memory issues at a young age and this cognitive decline is the clear effect of a mobile-using culture. We have become so addicted to the screen because the brain releases dopamine each time we check our news feed and email. This brain chemical fuels the sentiment of reward, pushing us to come back for more.
Take a quick look at how exactly smartphones gradually make us stupid and our memory zooey:
1. Multitasking makes us less intelligent – digital devices generate multitasking and recent research has shown that it significantly reduces the IQ.
2. Distractions are our worst enemy – being distracted all the time and not succeed in staying focused affects the formation of new memories. Most of the time we’re half-focused when trying to learn a new skill so it’s unlikely to create a strong memory around it. Due to lack of focus and multitasking, it’s very difficult to remember things. Our brain functions best if we’re focused and actively engaged in *what we’re studying.
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3. Blue light disturbs sleep – so much so it can cause sleep deprivation, a massive strain on your brain. This is certainly another agent that contributes to cognitive decline. We’re glued to our screens right before heading to bed and we wonder why we can’t fall asleep.
4. Google gives the best advice – the social paradigm of memory formation and retention has changed and now we rely on our best friend Google to provide us with any kind of information. Thus, how can we remember that chicken recipe or how to fix a broken faucet if we don’t call our friend anymore to teach us what to do, step by step? No new information has the opportunity to be cemented in our memory.
What to do about this digital amnesia:
The best way to deal with your phone addiction is to take it slowly, one step at a time. It’s understandable why so many working adults can’t actually quit smartphones altogether. Though if you think your life has to suffer greatly due to your addiction to digital devices, you may want to interrupt immediately all relationships with blue screens for a period of time.
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1. Ban all devices from your bedroom: digital devices are not so useful on your bedside table, right? Keep them out of the bedroom for a good night’s sleep.
2. Turn off notifications: every time your phone ‘dings’ you cannot help but look at it. Your phone is stealing your focus at the immediate task and encourages the release of stress hormones.
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3. Uninstall all unnecessary messaging apps: one single chat app is enough to be in touch with everyone.
4. A screen-free day: try to dedicate one day of the week to activities that do not imply a screen.
5. Try to get somewhere without your GPS: remember how cool maps were? And how enthralling used to be to actually get lost from time to time?
The world used to go round even before smartphones, remember that! Try to indulge in healthy habits and to challenge your brain more often. That way you’ll soon improve your memory. Share this super important advice!
