By Lata Jha:
It’s weird how those fingers seem to constantly be in search of something. A beep or a flash is like an adrenaline rush, especially if it’s from someone or about something we’ve been waiting for. A minor delay leaves us frazzled, distressed and sometimes, completely disoriented with the rest of the world. Or let’s just say, our world revolves around that one gadget. It’s definitely the be-all and end-all of things, and that is no exaggeration.
Before social media could take the world by storm, phone texting had already brought us together through a seamless, effortless process resulting in global connectivity. Concise and convenient, this form of communication was one of the first to break the ‘old is gold’ myth. For every new device seemed to break newer barriers.
The need to send and consequently receive messages instantly, has now reached alarming proportions. So much so, that we connect to people we’re talking to over texts at the risk of being completely asocial and neglecting those we’re with in person.
But before you scoff at the fossils who decry invention, you should know that this might just be affecting more than your social skills. According to a recent US study, surfing the Web or sending text messages within two hours of going to sleep might be stressing you out greatly. In this study involving more than 500 people, those addicted to their gadgets and used to texting or surfing before going to bed reported much higher levels of stress, as compared to those who weren’t in the habit.
Those surveyed included people from 18 to 73 years of age, who filled details online. This research, by reporter Israel Arevalo, a student of the University of Texas, was presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science. Another recent study found that LED rays illuminating from smart phones, television and computer screens and tablets disrupt the body’s natural rhythms and lead to sleep and other health issues. We might not realize this, but a lot of us do find it tough to fall asleep or to be able to sleep for an adequate amount of time. We attribute our anxiety to issues at work or on the home front, not knowing that things as inconsequential as gadgets are beginning to dictate our lives.
Maybe it’s not all about being ‘smart’, but also more cautious.
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