Great Reads - Links and Information
What does multi-tasking do to your brain?
| |
| Brain Bulletin 96 When was the last time you had a good idea? |
| When was the last time you had a great idea? John Cleese once said, "We don't know where we get our ideas from. What we do know is that we do not get them from our laptops." Indeed. And I'm pretty sure you don't get your great ideas staring into your smartphone. Electronic devices have become the great distraction. Moments of brilliance are hard to come by when your brain is distracted. Smartphones are ubiquitous. Many people seem addicted. One study even found that 68% of people place their phones next to their beds when sleeping. Smartphone addiction has a name - nomophobia. This term was created by British researchers in 2008 to identify people who experience anxiety when they have no access to mobile technology. Nomophobia has its first recovery center in southern California. Needing “anything” in order to feel at ease or normal is technically a disability. Remember, your brain wires to be good at what it does. If you spend a lot of time being distracted, your brain gets good at being distracted. Neuroplasticity cuts both ways. What price is paid? Your creativity and self-reflection suffer, and great ideas become scarce. Here is a short video to watch. One of the best I've seen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR18EIhrQjQ {Thanks, Ed Chaffin for sending it.} Studies show that down time, even boredom, is good for you brain. We all need more of it. When a momentary gap appears in your day, instead of mindlessly reaching for your phone, mindfully let your mind wander. Eureka moments usually come during periods of inactivity. I wonder what would have happened if Isaac Newton had been on his smartphone sitting under the tree? He probably would have fired off an angry tweet about falling apples hitting his head. Instead he came up with a great idea. Create some blank space in your day, and your brain will likely respond with a great idea or two. Seth Godin recently had a great post on five steps to mental hygiene: "Washing your hands helps you avoid getting sick. Putting fattening foods out of your reach helps you stay slim. And the provocations and habits you encounter in the digital world keep you productive (or drive you crazy): 1. Turn off mail and social media alerts on your phone. 2. Don't read the comments. Not on your posts or on the posts of other people. Not the reviews and not the trolls. 3. De-escalate the anger in every email exchange. 4. Put your phone in the glove compartment while driving. 5. Spend the most creative hour of your day creating, not responding. Each habit is hard to swallow and easy to maintain. Worth it." (end) Here's one more reason to put your smartphone down: Congratulations on learning something about your brain today. The Brain Bulletin is committed to help to do just that. If you missed any Brain Bulletins you can find them in the Brain Bulletin Archive: Also, something great and ongoing for your brain: Follow the Brain Guy on Twitter: You can join Terry Small's 3801 followers for free on Twitter: www.twitter.com/terrysmall I just posted a great article on 7 Science-Based Reasons to Laugh Every Chance You Get! www.twitter.com/terrysmall LEARNING & MEMORY: How Do We Remember and Why Do We Often Forget? - See more at: http://brainworldmagazine.com/learning-memory-how-do-we-remember-and-why-do-we-often-forget/#sthash.hQj4ltrW.dpufwww.twitter.com/terrysmal I will be posting, or tweeting as it's called, regularly about the brain. What I'm reading, watching, thinking, doing....all as it relates to your brain. Twitter restricts tweets to 140 characters, so it is always quick and to the point. No time wasting! The Brain Bulletin is now on Twitter as well: www.twitter.com/brainbulletin Twitter has the easiest sign up page in the world. Even if you are not on Twitter you can check out my tweets here: Terry Small, "the Brain Guy", Independent Scholar & Learning Skills Specialist. Subscribe to the Brain Bulletin email list. © 2015 Terry Small Learning Corporation. All rights reserved. |
The Centers for Disease Control tells us that in recent years there has been a jump in the percentage of young people diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly known as ADHD: 7.8 percent in 2003 to 9.5 percent in 2007 and to 11 percent in 2011. The reasons for the rise are multiple, and include changes in diagnostic criteria, medication treatment and more awareness of the condition. [Read more of this Washington Post article...]- VPL offers a variety of Children's Programs for kids aged 6-12.
Other great sources to support children's reading and media interests:
Mem Fox's Reading Magic - why reading aloud to our children will change their lives forever.
Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud handbook
Reading Rockets, Launching young readers: Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
Screen-smart Parenting - Jodi Gold
It's time to give up the notion that "digital natives" are more tech savvy than their teachers. According to a recent study of middle school science students and teachers, the teachers tended to have greater technology use. READ MORE
Google Translate