Is Staying Connected Stressing You Out?
It’s a modern world and we’re all connected to it in one form or another. We’re online and have instant messaging. Text messaging and cell phones are a constant part of our day. Most of us have gotten used to getting all of our news – work, national, and family news – online either through websites or email. In fact, we’ve come to depend on it. We’re connected 24/7 giving us the confidence that we know what’s going on at any particular moment.
But how much is all this connectivity costing us in terms of health?
One effect of living in an Internet society that’s available and active 24/7 is a significant increase in the amount of caffeinated drinks the average American is drinking. Everything from Starbucks to Red Bull, Americans are now drinking significantly more caffeinated drinks than they did in before the Internet. In fact, caffeinated drinks like Red Bull are now the biggest sellers for their manufacturers and is the third largest source of beverage profits for convenience stores. There’s so much information to absorb and so little time that we’re using caffeine to try to stay alert just a little longer.
A second effect is an increase in Attention Deficient Disorder (ADD) like behavior in most Americans. We’re so bombarded with information on a daily basis that it’s become necessary for us to become very selective in what we pay attention to. We focus on what interests us at the moment and simply ignore all the rest before going on to the next item of interest. However, this behavior tends to create and re-enforces short attention spans. Unfortunately, this also means that we can miss important information from friends, coworkers, and family.
Third, Americans are also sleeping 25% less than the average American did 100 years ago. Since we can shop, surf, IM, or be on discussion boards 24 hours a day, it’s no wonder that many of us don’t make it to bed until the early hours of the morning (especially after downing several cups of coffee and/or caffeinated energy drinks). As a result, many of us are trying to balance our work, social, and family lives while suffering from constant sleep deprivation.
All of this creates a significant amount of stress, a feeling like you have to know what’s going on, you have to remain connected. Otherwise you feel lost, out of touch, like you’re falling behind. And still, you fight this constant fear that there’s more information than you have time to absorb – creating even more stress.
It’s ironic. The more we try to “connect” electronically – Internet, email, Blackberry, MySpace, and so on – the more we actually disconnect from friends and family that might be right in front of us.
So how do you stop this cycle? First, commit to taking some time to “unplug” from your electronic network and reconnect with those around you. Log off from your Internet account. Turn off your Blackberry. Turn on your full attention to your spouse, your kids, your friends.
Second, if you’re going to be there, then be there. Practice being in the moment. If you’re spending time with friends or family, don’t be planning what you’re going to do as soon as you log back into your email account. Give your friends and family your full attention.
Last, don’t worry about the information you’re missing. First of all, the Internet will not crash and the servers melt down just because you aren’t signed in. Second, most of the information you miss will not make that much difference anyway.
So give it try. The benefits you get from giving your friends and family your full attention are significant. Your stress level will go down as you rediscover the world – and the people – around you.
Hiram
The Balanced Health Guy
Technorati Tags: mental health, stress, balanced health
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Boy, this one spoke to me. If I’m not constantly answering phone calls or emails, I feel like I’m being left out of the loop. I go through the day feeling rushed, like there’s never enough time to get it all done and my first thought when I’m driving home is “what did I miss?”
How did I get caught in this loop and how do I get out?
K
Yeah, especially when you come back to the office after a 3-day weekend. The amount of email I had to wade through today was unreal! Yet, I really feel like I’m missing something important if I don’t go through every single one of them.
I hear ya Bobby. I had the same problem and am only now getting to the end of the pile!