Finding Calm in the Chaos: The Power of Stillness in the Digital Era.
I was about to leave home for the usual running outdoors and looked outside. Suddenly, the scenery was covered in white and continuously snowing.
Is it slippery? Or too cold? — I thought to myself. Let me check in on one of the local weather apps. Suddenly, another thought came to mind.
I felt guilty about myself travelling in this digital overload. Running outside should be a time to relax.
I got inspired the other day by the quote below.
If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking. — George Orwell
There is some truth to the idea that writing well can help with thinking well, as organizing and expressing one’s thoughts in written form can aid in clarifying and solidifying them. Although, many factors contribute to one’s ability to think critically and effectively.
As humans, we have autonomy in shaping our thoughts and ideas. And what we consume, read and hear, who we spend time with, what we do with our time, and where we focus our energy and attention are crucial to cultivating focus and a health mind.
While technology has revolutionized our lives, it’s also made it more difficult for us to access our full brain potential. We are surrounded by invisible technology at every turn. We also find ourselves using apps much more than we ever initially planned.
On the one hand, it makes our lives more convenient, allowing us to access unprecedented amounts of information, saving time, and providing more efficient services. On the other hand, the influx of technology also affects us, depriving us of our productivity, mental health, and peace of mind.
Like any tool, technology has upsides and downsides.
In our digital age, we battle against everyday on:
Overflow
The amount of information available now is genuinely overwhelming. We now consume as much data in a single day as the average person before the age of information would have absorbed in an entire life. This deluge of information results in us having little to no time downtime, which is detrimental to our brain health and wellbeing.
Without downtime, we experience mental fog and fatigue.
Distractions
We are constantly connected to our devices and embodied interactions. Sounds and haptic feedback or any visual output catch our attention. We need help with focusing on our tasks. Therefore, we sometimes need to work on multitasking.
We drain the fuel of our brains if spending too much time surfing in it. And staying connected to our devices doesn’t make us happier. We end up missing special moments.
“Digital Dementia”
Coined by the neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer, this term refers to the breakdown of cognitive ability due to overusing technology.
Our digital devices remember tons of information for us. It’s highly convenient, yet, making a conscious effort to stretch the memory is another aspect we can practice.
Assumptions
We should not allow voices on the internet to influence, and sometimes stand in for, our critical thinking. Just as the internet is full of facts, it’s also full of opinions — which can be valuable. However, we must remember to think for ourselves rather than parrot what we’ve seen online.
We must keep our sense of self. To resist it, we need to make a conscious effort to practice our decision-making skills offline.
We can see how these challenges affect us and take steps to avoid them in our quest to become limitless.
So how might we counteract technology’s limiting — effects?
Using technology intentionally
We need to be more strategic and intentional about the technology we use, leading to long-term improvements in our lives.
Focus online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities. Which things you value in the long term benefit your wellbeing, costing you the minimum possible on your time and energy?
Which tools benefit you? How might you use those tools to serve your values without using them excessively or compulsively?
This will make us more focused and productive and free up quality time for meaningful and enriching activities.
By turning off certain app notifications, we fight the digital overload and distractions which consume us and do not benefit us.
Over the coming century, the most vital human resource in need of conservation and protection is likely to be our consciousness and mental space. — Tim Wu
Cultivating wellbeing
The power of stillness can be valuable. It can help us recharge, focus, be more productive, and gain perspective, clarity, and wellbeing.
To counteract this process, scheduling time weekly to unplug from technology is essential.
The practice of meditation, outdoor running or cycling can be beneficial in cultivating stillness, as well as setting aside time each day to disconnect from technology and engage in activities that promote joy, relaxation, reflection, and social interaction with the local community.
Humans crave community. We sometimes interrupt real interactions to check our phones, for example. When we lose out on in-person interaction or interrupt to check on social media, we wind up feeling more lonely and less fulfilled.
Consider:
- Adding creativity to your process.
- Participating in a community that aligns with your interests.
- Building and maintaining solid relationships.
- Volunteering for a cause you care about.
- Practising good communication skills and being an active listener when necessary.
- Developing a sense of belonging and connection to something greater than yourself.
- Practising empathy and compassion.
- Cultivating a positive attitude and mindset. Play is the ultimate set of joy.
- Break the monotony and search for the new in your daily life. We remind the brain to pay attention and rewire to recognize there’s something to learn.
It’s important to remember to find what works best for you.
When the five senses and the mind are stilled, when the reasoning intellect rests in silence, then begins the highest path. — the Katha Upanishad
