Unplugged

 

I am back from vacation. A two week fitness adventure. With a big technology break. I highly recommend it. The fitness adventure and the technology break.

It seems we can’t go anywhere anymore without the electronic umbilical cord. The benefits of cutting the ties are worth the few anxious moments of being unreachable. Actually I found the unreachableness one of the greatest pleasures and as much as I recommend it apparently it is good for our brain too.

Neuroscientist, David Strayer, studies the effects of nature on our brain and being unplugged really is good for us. Being in nature, that is without a cell phone or headphones any digital device, enhances our brain’s executive functions, restores our ability to pay attention and increases creativity by 50%. Our constant level of busy-ness has increased the stress on our pre-frontal cortex, the area of our brain that is responsible for critical thinking and problem solving, making us chronically cognitively fatigued. This leads to an inability to maintain focus, think through problems or come up with solutions.

You don’t need to unplug for a week, even a 30 minute walk in a park will give your brain the rest it needs. That is a walk without your phone. Giving your pre-frontal cortex a rest lets you imagine and create meaning. It is when you get those “a-ha” moments that help you solve problems. It reduces depression, anxiety and mental fatigue.

If you don’t already, get in the habit of unplugging and give your brain the rest it needs to keep you fit and healthy.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla