Keeping your eyes glued to your rectangular item of all-that-is-and-can-be is wrecking your health. Nope, I’m not talking about radiation or whatever else. I’m talking about … connection. Sure, you’re connected to that smart phone, but you’re missing something. True connection. Human interaction. Hell, even human-to-pet connection.
It pains me to notice people out to eat with others, taking a walk and so on with their faces firmly planted in their phones. They’re missing what’s happening around them. They’re missing the wonderful humans who are sharing time with them. Or even the beautiful scenery around them. Or their cute kids. Or their endearing pets.
That’s not only harmful to your health; it’s harmful to your relationships. Being sorta/kinda with someone is not the same as when you are truly vested in what that other person has to share. And, it’s, well, rude.
I’ll give you two outs in this: Sometimes is reasonable. We all do sometimes. And, sometimes, escaping into that phone is better than what you’d say to Aunt Bessie who is telling you — again — how to best live your life.
But the rest of the time? Not so good.
We used to fear robots taking over our society. Have we become the robots? Robots are too impersonal. They can’t pick up as well on cues and needs and respond with some real warmth and caring. Because … they’re not really listening.
Why am I harping on this? Well, one, ‘cuz I care a whole bunch about you living well. And connection is a building block to that. Just like whole foods are. Like getting your body moving. Like working on stress. The connection to connection as a health need is real.
Even Harvard Medical School (whoa) recognizes the health benefits of satisfying relationships. From their Women’s Health Watch:
“Social connections … not only give us pleasure, they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet, and not smoking. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends, and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer.
“Conversely, a relative lack of social ties is associated with depression and later-life cognitive decline, as well as with increased mortality. One study, which examined data from more than 309,000 people, found that lack of strong relationships increased the risk of premature death from all causes by 50% — an effect on mortality risk roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity.”
You don’t build good connections if you live on your smart phone. It’s not possible. It isn’t the same. Take the challenge: Put down your phone a little more often, and see what happens.
