The Hidden Cost of Constant Stimulation on the Mind
Article #1 in a series of 10.
For most of human history, people lived without a device in their pocket that could interrupt them at any moment and provide constant stimulation. In other words, there were no notifications, no breaking news alerts, and no buzzing reminders demanding attention. Communication happened, of course, but it happened slower and less often. as a result, people experienced far more quiet moments throughout the day.
Today our phones connect us to everyone and everything all the time. The question worth asking is not whether cell phones are useful—they clearly are. The real question is what constant stimulation and constant connection are doing to our minds.
I’m not going to reminisce about some nostalgic time and start this story with, “When I was your age.” On the other hand, I’m old enough to remember life without a cell phone or computer. Let me remind you of what that time was like.
Life Before Cell Phones Stimulation
You had a phone on your wall and a TV. The TV played programs throughout the day, usually soap operas, and there was one hour of news at night. In my house, we received channels 6, 10, 13, and 17. So perhaps you watched an hour of Dan Rather and looked forward to Saturday morning cartoons.
Most of the programming, other than channel 17—our PBS station—was not exactly kid-friendly. It was mostly boring. I do recall that my brother and I would watch Magnum P.I., The A-Team, and MacGyver. The rest of the time we played.
We used our imaginations with Legos and Lincoln Logs inside. Outside we rode bikes, fished, and played in the woods.
When Communication Was Slower
The phone would ring a few times a day, and it was usually a family member. Spam was not a common event. When no one was home, the phone would ring and go to an answering machine.
When we returned home, the light on the machine would be blinking and we would play the message. Sometimes the phone didn’t ring for days.
My mother or father could reach me at school, in the rare moment when an urgent message was needed, through the main office. My name would be called on the loudspeaker and I would go to the office. The secretary might say something like, “You have to take the bus home because no one can pick you up.”
There are many more examples of “the good old days” that I could describe, but I think you get the message.
Life was simpler, quieter, and slower.
The Stages of “No Cell Phone” Grief
There are stages of grief. The stages are pretty well established, and each person experiences them differently and for different amounts of time. From my personal experience, there are also stages of “no cell phone” grief.
If I accidentally leave my phone at home, my first reaction is panic. How will my wife reach me in case of an emergency? After the panic subsides, calmness settles in.
Constant Stimulation and the Modern Mind
Yes, I do like my cell phone. It is convenient, fun, and useful. But I also dislike my cell phone. It gives me anxiety and frustration to know that everyone expects to reach me whenever they want, like there is a string tied to my pocket connecting me to everyone and anyone.
At any moment, a beep, vibration, or ring can pull me away from the moment.
Who is it?
Apple News with the latest breaking news.
text message from a friend with a meme.
email.
spam call.
spam text.
spam email.
It is all of those things, all of the time.
We are attached to them because a cell phone is an addictive device that is very similar to other addictive substances. The brain chemistry of this addiction is very similar.
I can hear the arguments. Yeah, but… What if…
My response is simple: how did we manage that activity 35 years ago? We did it then, and we can do it again.
Using a paper map to plan a trip is good for your brain. Measuring distances and using the map scale to calculate the time it will take is good too. Knowing how to read an analog clock is good for your brain.
Perhaps your husband, wife, son, or daughter should only reach out to you during your very busy day in an emergency. Perhaps sending your wife a text to pick up milk on her way home is convenient, but it can also cause a serious car accident—and it’s an old problem.
Instead of relying on your ability to make last minute changes to your day you should slow down, plan, look, and notice what you are running low on. Pre-planning and making list is good for your brain and your anxiety.
Try This Experiment
Try this experiment. Leave your phone at home for three hours. Go for a walk, go fishing, sit outside, or talk with someone without looking at a screen.
The first feeling may be panic.
Then something surprising happens.
Your mind becomes quieter.
Perhaps the problem is not that we cannot live without these devices.
Perhaps the problem is that we have forgotten that we can.
References
1) Adam Alter (2017).
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. Penguin Press.
2) Gloria Mark (2023).
Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity. Hanover Square Press.
3) Marcus E. Raichle et al. (2001).
A default mode of brain function. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(2), 676–682.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.98.2.676
3) Rachel Kaplan & Stephen Kaplan (1989).
The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press.
3) Cal Newport (2019).
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. Portfolio.
Read other articles in this series for the full picture of how our electronic devices, cell phones, and computers are damaging your brain.
Article #2: Why Boredom Is Good for Your Brain
Article #3: The Science of Attention: Why Our Brains Need Quiet
Article #4: How Smartphones Rewire the Brain
Article #5: How to Break the Phone Addiction
Article #6: The Power of Walking Without Your Phone
Article #7: Why Silence Is Good for the Brain
Article #8: Digital Detox: What Happens When You Leave Your Phone at Home
Article #9: Children, Screens, and the Developing Brain
Article #10: The Lost Skill of Deep Thinking
Bonus Article: How to Build a Better Life
