Our Brain on Computers – Can Disconnecting Help Us Better Engage
According to Nielsen, the average social media user currently spends about six hours per month on sites like Facebook. As we spend more time working, networking, and now socializing online, I often wonder what all this time at our computers does for our minds.
Photo of one of Rita's favorite hikes in Boulder, Colorado
The New York Times article, Outdoors and Out of Reach, Studying the Brain shares a fascinating look at the way we’ve become attached (addicted?) to technology—and its possible impact on our brains. The article stated, “The quest to understand the impact on the brain of heavy technology use — at a time when such use is exploding — is still in its early stages.”
In the end, there are no definitive conclusions on whether spending quiet time away from technology might benefit us. I however feel a hike in nature, or a few minutes of meditation, clears my mind and allows me to be more engaged with my online friends and my work. What do you think?
About Post Author
2 Responses
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
First off, great hike photo Rita! Of course, being unplugged like that helps, and allows us to reset to who we should be.
I’m a software developer, so I’ve no choice in my professional life but to be on a computer a lot. Over the past few years though, I’ve focused more on more on just single-tasking or close to it, instead of working on ten different things at once. If you’re doing your actual work in a scattered fashion, it can’t help but transfer to your social life too.
Hey, thanks for taking time to read and comment! I keep hearing about single-tasking more and more … agreed.