Is our over reliance of our tech devices making us less smart? Well, according to a 2016 study in the journal Memory, it was found that our tech over reliance was indeed making our brains lazy. Furthermore, researchers found that when people were allowed to Google answers to difficult questions, they became more likely to turn to the search engine to help answer simple ones as well (and we are so guilty of this).

Smartphones hamper our ability to recall things by overwhelming our mind with distractions, because when we are using these devices, we are often switching quickly between topics or conversations. This rapid change in focus can prevent an idea or thought from sufficiently registering in our memory.

So if you want to improve your power of recall and not turn into a tech reliant dummy, try the following:

Hide Your Gadgets

Apparently a mere glimpse (even if the screen is dark), of our devices slashes our capacity to pay attention and remember, according to a new study from the University of Texas at Austin. So the next time when you’re not making calls or sending texts, hide your phone away in another room and wean yourself off your tech addiction and over reliance.

Go Off-Line

We all need our phones and gadgets for work, but the idea is to reduce the distractions, so turn on the Do Not Disturb mode and then allow calls only from selected contacts. This way you’ll get important or expected notifications but avoid the non-urgent ones.

Hang Out With Real Life Friends

There is a real benefit to talking face-to-face. If you connect by text or email, it’s not the same test of intellectual or social skills. A 2017 AARP brain health survey found that people over 40 who reported socialising with friends and family were likelier than those who were more isolated, to rate their memory as excellent or very good.

The Benefits Of Pen And Paper

Scribble down quotes, important dates, and other details you want to keep in your mind. Writing notes on paper leads to better memory retention than typing on laptops according to a 2014 study published in Psychological Science. Typing is often mindless transcribing, but handwriting requires more time and focus. The process of writing helps encode information into your memory.

Phones Off At Bed Time

Memory is consolidated during sleep, so be sure to turn off all your devices at least an hour before bed and charge them (if needed) on the other side of the bedroom, not your nightstand, so you won’t be tempted to sneak a peek. 


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