Your Smartphone & Stress Levels: The Hidden Toll of Our Tech-Obsessed World
Let’s explore the pervasive and often underestimated source of modern stress: our relationship with modern technology. We’ll begin with our smartphones. While they are incredible devices offering immense convenience, they can also be silent saboteurs of our nervous systems and overall well-being.
We’ve all been there–juggling emails, social media, and notifications, often simultaneously. But what’s the real cost of this constant digital juggling act on our minds and bodies? Today, we’ll explore some of the science behind this “distracted mind.”
Note: I will draw on insights from Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D. Professor in Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry and Larry Rosen Professor Emeritus of Psychology in their compelling work: “The Distracted MInd: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World” (MIT Press, 2016).
The Romantic Date Night
As my life and my profession align, I am a keen observer of people, their behavior and actions. It was one part of the profession I enjoyed the most; and sometimes I can’t help myself.
For example, I gaze at a couple as they sit down in a restaurant. I notice they have spent time and energy preparing themselves for date night. The ambiance in the restaurant is quieter than most with subdued lighting and candles on each table. The waitstaff are attentive and dressed nicer than casual joints. As the couple sit, without looking at each other, they immediately take out their smartphones and either Google something or text another person. I imagine the gentleman checking a sports score, then focusing his attention on one of several TVs near the bar while the woman gazes at an app monitoring their child’s sleep or checking to see that an online order has been shipped. The hostess provides menus and neither one looks at each other.
Wow, what a great way to have a distracted dinner and turn someone off. No intimacy tonight! Have you ever experienced or witnessed this before? Thank you smartphone!!
Focused Exercise
One of my favorite exercise, health and wellness books is Super Body, Super Brain. The author Michael Gonzalez-Wallace provides a guide to focus on exercise to maximize benefits and outcomes. His instructions to get the most out of the session are simple: no outside distractions such as TV, music, or communication devices (smartphones). The intention is to integrate the brain by focusing on a set of compound exercises with a specified number of reps for each set of exercises in each round. The author provides instructions to maximize gain to our body and brain through these exercises.
In addition, I want to draw from an experience I had in a cycling class. One Saturday morning a participant seemed distracted by messages coming to her phone. She received messages every two to four minutes (amounting to 20 or more texts) and had to suspend her cycling to answer them. I doubt she gained any physical benefits and likely was so stressed from the interruptions that there was a net negative effect of attending the class. Her activity distracted me, and I found the experience unsettling. Uncharacteristically of me, I shared my sentiments with her at the end of the session. The cycling class incident, much like my observation at the restaurant, vividly illustrates a deeper, more pervasive issue.
The Cost of Distraction: Eroding Presence, Hijacking Our Experiences
What’s the true cost of this constant digital juggling act? It’s not just a minor inconvenience; it’s the loss of presence. It’s the erosion of our capacity to be fully engaged in the moment, whether it’s a romantic dinner, a challenging workout, or a simple conversation with a friend. Think about the restaurant scene I described. The potential for intimacy, for a meaningful connection, was instantly diminished by the allure of their screens. The experience was hijacked by the digital world. And in the cycling class, the constant interruptions not only robbed the participant of the full physical and mental benefits of the exercise, but also created a stressful and distracting environment for everyone else.
Michael Gonzalez-Wallace, in his book “Super Body, Super Brain,” emphasizes the importance of focused attention during exercise for maximizing results. His point applies far beyond the gym: true engagement, in any activity, requires us to be fully there, not partially in the digital realm. When we’re constantly checking our phones, we’re missing the subtle cues, the emotional nuances, and the richness of experience that life offers. We’re shortchanging ourselves and those around us.
The human brain has not evolved or adjusted to the constant bombardment of distractions, data and interruptions.
Take a Small Step
What small step will you take today to reduce the impact of technology and smartphones to prioritize your health? Share your thoughts with me at [email protected]
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Don’t forget to share this post with those in your life to inspire them on their own wellness journey!
And stay tuned for my full blog series on technology. We’ll talk about the myriad of chemical events triggered by tech interruptions and distraction and what we can do to cope or offset the impact of technology.
To a long and healthy life,
David Bernstein, MD
A human (David Bernstein) generated this blog content with the polishing aid of artificial intelligence.
