As the old year closes and the new one begins, it is a good time to take stock of your tech habits. What is working and what is hindering you? What new habits could help make your life easier? We’ve compiled a few suggestions for your new year resolutions.
Ditch the distractions
The idea that the internet is negatively affecting our brains has been knocking around for a while. We have access to unlimited information at our fingertips, and yet our attention span and capacity to retain information has been falling.
That may not strictly be the fault of the internet. New developments are always blamed for any potential ills in society, stretching back to ancient times. Greek philosopher Socrates thought that writing was inferior to memory and the spoken word; the printing press was another invention that was going to be key to the downfall of civilised society, and don’t even get us started on TV.
So it’s not inevitable that the internet will affect our brainpower. But it’s hard to argue that technology isn’t making us increasingly distracted. Take a look around you next time you are out in public. How many people are so busy with their smartphones that they aren’t noticing what is going on around them?
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