Mindful moments and my changing brain

Not long after smartphones and tablets hit the market, questions began to arise about their impact on the brain. The 2012 documentary "Digital Nation" raised concerns that digital media could be altering how we think and recall information. The 2024 book, The Anxious Generation, argues that children’s scrolling habits significantly rewire their brains, leading to emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Researchers believe smart device usage, especially passive scrolling, reduces gray matter, which is involved in decision making, cognition, emotional regulation, and other functions. Studies indicate that adults who didn’t grow up using these devices are less neurologically impacted than those who have. Nevertheless, the impact is there.

My client, Lou, who is 75, told me he feels compelled to scroll if he loses interest in what’s on TV or when a commercial comes on. He remembers a not-too-distant past, when he didn’t have that compulsion, and acknowledges a likely brain change.

Recently, I had a similar acknowledgment while watching a show on Hulu. I have the lower-tier subscription that comes with ads, and when my program was interrupted, I was annoyed. As the commercial played, a timer indicated my show would resume in 180 seconds, and my annoyance quickly turned into impatience. I considered, “Maybe I should spend the extra 5 dollars a month to upgrade.” That’s when Lou came to mind.

By itself, feeling irritated by a commercial break may not be a big deal, but I think it points to something bigger. I'm not a heavy user of smart tech, but it is nevertheless affecting my brain, and I want to minimize its impact. One way to do this, according to research, is by accumulating more daily mindful moments.

I’ve begun doing this by observing details in my surroundings while out and about. For example, instead of glancing at my phone at a stoplight, I’ll look around and actively notice the surrounding buildings, small businesses, and the make and model of cars around me. There's no shortage of Teslas out there.

At an apartment building where I’ve trained clients for two years, I’m just now noticing the number of palm trees, the items residents keep on their balconies, and the many inconspicuous security cameras that had escaped my attention.

What I enjoy most about this activity is that it keeps me in the moment and brings novelty to each day with a “game-like” quality that the kid in me appreciates.

We’ll see if this restores my patience during commercial breaks, but being present and absorbing my surroundings is more rewarding and healthy than staring at my phone.

How about you? Have smart devices and scrolling taken up too much real estate in your brain, and, if so, would you like some of it back? If you add some daily mindful moments to your routine, I’d love to hear your insights and observations.