Are We Getting Dumber?
I know. Terrible headline. But bear with me for a sec.
I came across a video short recently that I want to lean on as a launch to this week’s Monday Morning Stretch.
Here’s the setup question:
“What hurts a human being in their brain, in their mood, and in their energy the most?”
That’s a bit of a foreboding question, is it not?
Even so, in the spirit of my heartfelt focus on holistic health (in Business, in Life, & in Faith), inquiring minds want to know!
The neuroscientist being interviewed (TJ Power) gave a quick history of our relationship with ‘dopaminergic behaviors’ – going back to the onset of readily available cigarettes and alcohol – before landing on what he believes is today’s biggest problem.
Reading between the lines, he drew a direct link between what he calls ‘dopamine distraction’ and the interviewer’s original question.
In his mind, the current leader of the pack of behaviors that hurt the human brain, mood, and energy the most – through dopamine distraction – is…
Short form video.
(The irony of this nugget being produced and discovered on short form video is not lost on either me or TJ!)
Once again, we must proclaim from the mountaintops – unfortunately – “Technology for the loss!”
Technology (among other factors), over time, continues to make us dumber.
That is not a slam. It’s just a reality.
Think about it for just a minute.
Have you read anything from the 18th or 19th century? Even general correspondence was rich with words we can hardly pronounce, let alone understand.
Without the aid of modern technology, many of our ancestors were mentally incredible.
I believe the average educated of their time could talk and think circles around those of equivalent education today.
Learning Latin was a thing back then. Reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic were THE path to success, and they leaned into it hard.
Take away our calculators and computers today and see how that works for ya…
Can you imagine the mental recall and acuity that was necessary ‘back in the day’?
My generation refers to life before Google as if it were ancient times. Our kids don’t know what the world was like before Instagram. And very soon we will be saying, “How did we live without (insert your AI of choice here)?!?”
We can hardly fathom what life was like before the printing press. Or better yet, before written records.
One reason we can’t wrap our heads around the absolute accuracy of ‘oral tradition’ is that we have never had to rely on it as our ONLY form of generational transference of knowledge!
OK…back to current day where the fact remains: We DO have calculators and computers and a rapidly progressing technology curve.
With that as our reality, what is the executive business leader message here?
Because let’s face it, the marketplace demands that we keep up with the latest technology or get left in the dust. I get that, and so do you.
Even so…
It is my humble position that, if you and I really want to stand apart and be a difference maker in this world and in the lives of the people around us…
…we should all consider taking intentional, proactive steps to deter the negative impact technology and other ‘dopaminergic behaviors’ that are proven to have a negative effect on our brain, our mood, our energy, and our soul.
(I added that last one.)
If we want our lives (personal and professional) and even our organizations to thrive well into the future, we must be willing to do things that help us to intentionally develop and maintain our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual strength and acuity.
Here is the short form video I referenced above where TJ has a drastic suggestion for us to consider as “the domino that needs to fall.”
Check it out, and then consider what other actions and activities you might want to drastically reduce (even to the point of elimination) or add to your personal, professional, or organizational Rule of Life.
(BTW, here’s the long form video with the Dopamine Neuroscientist, in case you’re interested in a meaty discussion!)
I am very interested in your thoughts and would love to hear what you think. If I get enough responses, I will publish a list for all to consider in a future MMS installment, so that’s a very real ask…
If this conversation tweaks your interest at all, be sure to check out this week’s resources below. They are right up this alley.
Something to think about, anyway.
Blessings to you all, my friends!
==========
This Week’s Resource Recommendations:
“Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human”
- Carlos Whittaker
From Amazon: Change your relationship with technology. Change your life.
Share. Post. Reply…Most of us have gotten so used to notifications and alerts, pings and rings, that even if we don't want to be on our phones so much, we don't know what to do about it. The constant flow of information affects our brains, relationships, and emotional well-being. We feel stuck, overwhelmed, overstimulated, and we want a way out.
Like many of us, podcaster and author Carlos Whittaker had lived for years in an always-on, always-connected world—and he felt more disconnected than ever from God, his community, and even himself. When Carlos Whittaker realized how many hours he was on his phone, he took extreme measures to see how unplugging could change his body and soul.
In Reconnected, Carlos shares the challenges, surprises, and profound insights of his self-imposed exile from technology, spending nearly two months screen-free at a monastery, an Amish farm, and at home. As you journey with Carlos through this life-changing experiment you will discover:
How to retrain yourself to notice the world before you notice your texts;
What technology does to your brain and what you can do about it;
Ways to prioritize in-person relationships even if you need screens for work or school;
Why turning down your phone's volume turns up God's voice in your life;
The newfound joy of being bored, getting lost, and not having to Google every question that comes to your mind.
Blending wisdom from the past, practices of intentionality and community, and Whittaker's signature engaging communication style, Reconnected will inspire and equip you to reset your life in a tech-saturated world. It's time to take back control of your life from technology and recover the lost art of being human. You were made for more. This is how you start living again.
From Amazon: The brain’s ability to change and adapt is one of the most powerful tools we can harness to improve our lives. Renowned neuroscientist and co-founder of Neurify, Tj Power, believes in the human ability to optimize and rewire brain chemistry to unlock one’s full potential. However, to do so, one must first implement a series of practical, life-changing strategies.
The DOSE Effect reveals the secrets of our brain chemistry, offering simple and accessible ways to make modifications to your lifestyle that can transform your brain. Drawing on cutting-edge science, Power explores how biohacking your brain can not only enhance cognitive performance but also improve the aspects of your life that ultimately control a happier, healthier, and more productive lifestyle.
The DOSE Effect proves the intrinsic connection between lifestyle factors and mental and physical well-being. Split into four sections, this essential guidebook provides the most effective techniques for understanding the key hormones that rule our thinking and our behaviors:
Dopamine: your motivation and attention chemical
Oxytocin: your relationships and confidence chemical
Serotonin: your mood and energy levels chemical
Endorphins: your stress reduction chemical
Research-driven and deeply inspiring, Power’s revolutionary strategies allow readers to harness behaviors and practices to improve mental health, manage stress, elevate mood, and promote overall wellness. His key findings include the influence of effortful activity on Dopamine production, the significance of social connection in Oxytocin levels, the value of connecting with nature and maintaining gut health for optimal Serotonin levels, and the beneficial effects of physical exertion and laughter on Endorphins release. You have everything you need to optimize your brain chemistry—this groundbreaking book shows you how.
Exploring a range of important topics including layoffs, health insurance, work-family conflict, work hours, job autonomy, and why people remain in toxic environments, Pfeffer offers guidance and practical solutions all of us—employees, employers, and the government—can use to enhance workplace wellbeing. We must wake up to the dangers and enormous costs of today’s workplace, Pfeffer argues. Dying for a Paycheck is a clarion call for a social movement focused on human sustainability. Pfeffer makes clear that the environment we work in is just as important as the one we live in, and with this urgent book, he opens our eyes and shows how we can make our workplaces healthier and better.
MMS 25-10
I would love to send our Monday Morning Stretch directly to you via email and would consider it an honor to serve you in this way. To register, please take 30 seconds to give us permission to do so below.
Blessings to you, my friend!
