From the “this shouldn’t be a shock” category, a recent study has shown that taking a break from pretty much anything digital (computers, phones, TV, etc.) helps your brain “work”. There is a great article on the New York Times which takes a look at this study:
[T]echnology makes the tiniest windows of time entertaining, and potentially productive. But scientists point to an unanticipated side effect: when people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting downtime that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.
I personally like to keep my work and personal life separate. I do this by not having a smart phone (I have yet to have a real need to be on the Internet when I am not in front of a computer) and just a single laptop. I have found that whenever I am on the computer I am doing work 95% of the time. So when I am not on a computer I have no access to the Internet or email so there is no temptation or urge to work every spare moment.
Of course I still enjoy watching the few TV shows I am into but for the most part my 8-5 hours (M-F) are the only time I am on the computer. It is good to see this “digital downtime” is actually good for my brain. Maybe I can put off getting a smart phone for another 5 years.
What about you? Do you find that taking a break from technology is refreshing? After all, do we really need to be connected all of the time or is it just an addiction we have?
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We definitely need breaks. More and more people aren’t getting enough breaks.
Sure, there are advantages to being in a “connected” world. However, so many people just can’t…be…anymore. They must be on the phone, texting, facebooking, whatever, all the time. It’s bad in so many ways. I know personally I’ll work a lot of things out in my head during the “down time” be that in the car, or in the shower.
Not to mention the problems it causes with eyesight, memory, etc.