We can all put the cell phone aside, but for how long?Half an hour, two minutes, maybe? This is a test that we should all pass at some point to assess our level of dependence.
Like it or not, smartphones are an extension of our body, an extension that is very difficult to do without.
- We call them smartphones because.
- As we know.
- They can perform extraordinary functions that make our lives easier.
- However.
- Something that has been observed in the field of psychology is that our cell phones already function as a substitute for intelligence itself.
We transfer functions that we must perform ourselves, delegated them for convenience, speed and efficiency, a few years ago most of us knew by heart the phone number of our friends, family, boyfriends and girlfriends, now we barely remember ours.
In addition, one thing that has also been observed is how we lose some orientation skills. Now we use GPS for almost everything, dispensing the logical-spatial effort when it comes to orienting ourselves in a certain place.
We could say, without error, that we have reached a point where we do not have control of the mobile phone, it is the device itself that masters many of our skills.
At the same time there is another phenomenon that is no less interesting and, at the same time, alarming: smartphones reduce our performance, energy and motivation, but in what way?Let’s look at more information about that.
We need to be smarter than our smartphones to keep them from controlling us.
Even if we don’t believe it, nothing will happen, the world won’t stop. If someone calls us or sends us a message, that person will not disintegrate to receive our response a few hours later, everything will remain in place, each in place and every obligation on their horizon.
However, after this disconnection, the ones that will have changed will be us because we will feel much better when we put the cell phone aside for a while, that is the secret.
However logical this reasoning may seem, the truth is that we have a hard time doing so, so much so that there are frequent behaviors that we are not aware of, we have reached a point where, even during our rest and inactivity, we touch the mobile phone.
A break at work, while we’re on the subway or in a queue, waiting for the movie to start at the movies?It’s good at all times to take a look at your mobile phone.
The effects of this use, even in our moments of rest, are harmful. The brain needs to disconnect a little, but if we offer stimuli as intense as content on mobile devices, that need will not be met.
The consequences are noticeable. At least, that’s what an interesting study has shown.
Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, conducted a study this year with a large group of college students, where more than 400 students conducted a series of psychotechnical exercises of relative difficulty.
Half of them were asked to rest an hour before taking the test; during this free time, they were unable to use their mobile phones.
On the other hand, the other group was able to use the mobile phone at rest, after these previous guidelines and after passing the tests the results were very significant, the students who used the mobile at rest made 22% more errors than the group that did not use the mobile phone.
At the same time, it took almost twice as long to process and understand each topic of the psychometric test compared to the group that did not use a mobile phone.
This data has been used to demonstrate something researchers have already understood: electronic devices reduce our attention and effectiveness in solving complex problems.
In addition, it has also been proven that resting on the mobile for at least an hour allows us to recover the mental energy.
One fact that demonstrates the study cited is that we underestimate the resources consumed by our mobile phone.
With that in mind, we’re not talking about electric power to recharge the battery, but about our own energy, our cognitive reserves, our mental flexibility, the ability to focus attention, observe, react, orient in a city, and why not?Even to connect with each other in a closer, more humane way.
However, the answer to this problem is not to use more “stupid” phones. Technology has the right to be more and more skilled, advanced and sophisticated. All of this is invested in many ways in us, and many of them are positive.
The secret is how we use these resources, something extraordinary shouldn’t be harmful if we had more control over these devices.
Leaving the cell phone aside for two hours, three or an entire afternoon does not hurt, however being connected intensely and continuously yes, our brain is exhausted, we are losing momentum, certain skills and even our well-being.
This is something we should be more aware of because, as many experts have pointed out, we have reached a point where we have already created an emotional connection with the mobile phone, which is no longer a resource. He’s a friend we can’t forget at home.
We have to think about that. Let’s disconnect to recharge. We’re going to hang up for a living.