Take a break from technology for the sake of your sanity!

Take a break from technology for the sake of your sanity!

by Mansi Kohli
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Today, technology is prevalent in our lives and we are certainly used to if not dependent on it to a large extent. But most people fail to gauge in the potential negative consequences that it may produce in the long run.

Multitasking with technology has its drawbacks

One thing that technology has done for us is teach us to multi-task. Trying to squeeze in too much in too less time, we often eat while replying to emails on our phones or go for walks whilst chatting on our mobiles or even check our phones in the middle of the night to not miss out on the latest update. While this may be perceived as a good thing by many, there are some ill-effects of multi-tasking too much. (Read: Which of these 5 technology related health problems do you have?)

It can lead to problems in your attention, concentration, working memory and problem-solving capacity. 
People who multi-task suffer from a mental burnout. As a result, they tend to be impulsive, erratic, depressed and angry. 
If done over a longer period of time, multi-tasking impairs our capacity to learn and recall.
Researchers in psychology have found that people who multi-task experience a decline in their intelligence as compared to those who do not.
Trying to 'fit in' online will cost you

Today, people feel extremely unsure and undesirable about themselves. As a result, they chase possessions, technology, events and social media to create a desirable impression. They feel that if they are not 'out there' people will consider them undesirable and reject them. However, the sad part is that no matter whatever one does, this fear is never-ending. The person never feels reassured and spends the most productive time and resources of their life in getting unnecessary attention. (Read: Are you an internet addict?)

Are you missing out on real life?

For several people, expressing personal emotions on social media is to catch other people's attention. It makes them feel important that other people are following them, reading about them and discussing about their personal lives.

For some people social media has sadly become more important than real life. I recently saw a depressed 24-year-old who only had an online circle. Due to his internet addiction, he had drifted away from his friends and therefore had no option but to express his emotions on social media in order to feel lighter.

Some people who are inhibited or anxious to confront real life dilemmas find social media a safer bet to unload their emotional baggage. It is also easier for them to propose, accept and reject people on social media. They feel that they can get away with the immediate emotional reaction from others. (Read: Is Facebook strengthening or ruining friendships?)

Tips to reduce dependency on technology

Exercise your brain where you can: For matters where you can use your brain, do not bother using a gadget. Simple things, like doing mental mathematics and remembering numbers will go a long way in exercising your brain and keeping your memory healthy.

No gadget time or no gadget place: Make this simple rule. Every day, without fail have a no gadget time where you can dump all technology away, sit and daydream –this will enhance your creative thinking and problem solving abilities. Alternatively, you can make a 'no gadget space' in your home where you will be without any gadget. It is best to keep gadgets away from your bedroom so that you can relax and interact with your partner.

Overcome your fears: If you have social anxiety, confront it and heal it. Do not use social media as a shield. The more open you are about your feelings in the real world, the better you and people around you would feel. Also, if you overuse social media because of the fear of being left out, you need to reason out whether the fear is rational or irrational. Most of the time, such fears are irrational, based on little evidence. Challenge this fear in your mind and overcome it.

Stop notifications: Almost every other person has a smartphone these days which gives us minute-by-minute update of various things and people. Do you really need that all the time? It is good to be connected but letting it become a way of life isn't. If your job permits, make it a habit to switch off notifications after work or at least over the weekend. This way, you won't be staring at your phone every 2 minutes. 

Log in, log out: Don't keep a tab of social networking sites open all day long on your computer. Log in, check out what you have to and then log out. You can do this multiple times a day and slowly bring down the number to once or twice a day. 

Take out time for hobbies: When there is nothing else to do, you fiddle with your phone, playing games, looking up people's profiles,etc. Instead, read a book or talk to your sibling or go out for a walk. Think of things you can do in your spare time than staring at your phone. 

With inputs from Dr Pulkit Sharma, a Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalytical Therapist at Imago – Centre for Self.

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