Anybody else feel like they have the attention span of a goldfish these days? Or maybe slightly depressed? Technology use may be driving these feelings. You might need a digital detox. We’re surrounded by screens and their attention-demanding displays and alerts. Whether it’s your smartphone, or the medical equipment you work with daily, devices are fragmenting your attention. While there isn’t much in the scientific literature on the impact of screen time on adults, researchers have looked at the effects on children. A PLOS One study published in April 2019 looked for associations between screen time and inattention problems in preschoolers. The data came from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study, and links increased screen time to increased attention issues in young children. A JAMA Pediatrics study published in July highlights additional detrimental effects of screen time on developing adolescent brains. This longitudinal study concluded that screen time — including social media and TV — increased levels of depression in adolescents. Researchers hypothesized that the depression is a result of increased social comparison. If screens are having a verifiable effect on developing minds, is it reasonable to conclude that they’re at least having some effect on adults? Why doctors need to minimize distraction Two facts illustrate why doctors should minimize the impact of the aforementioned technological distractions in their lives. The first is pretty straightforward. The stakes in medicine could not be higher. Lives are on the line. Anything that could diminish your attention span or emotional wellbeing should likely be set aside. The second fact relates to the already emotionally taxing nature of medicine. In addition to riding the emotional rollercoaster of caring for patients daily, doctors have to contend with an increasingly demanding career, which is worsened by the physician shortage and increased documentation requirements. All of these factors contribute to physician burnout. It might be vital for the wellbeing of your patients, as well as yourself, to eliminate these extraneous sources of mental interference from your life. The good news is that the process has already been laid out for you. Digital detox Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism provides a practical blueprint for you to follow. We won’t summarize the entire book for you, but the Reader’s Digest version is that you need to reset your relationship with technology. The process begins with a 30-day digital detox during which you refrain from using social media and eliminate mindless technology use. This can include binge watching shows on streaming services, such as Netflix, or going down internet rabbit holes, investigating the history of the ‘80s pop band Milli Vanilli. You might be thinking, 30 days without social media? Isn’t social interaction supposed to help alleviate burnout and depression. Newport’s argument is that yes, it is; however, you aren’t getting quality social interaction from social media. That’s just what the social media companies — which are in fact mind control companies — are selling you. Newport writes that software designers have engineered social media apps to be addicting slot machines. The entire business of social media is much like big tobacco: It makes money off of user interaction and is therefore incentivized to keep you hooked, Newport argues. During this 30-day break, prioritize analog interaction. Go on dates with your special someone (or find one if you don’t have one). Play board games with your family. Spend time out in nature. Call friends or family. (Newport provides a myriad of other more meaningful ways to use your time.) You could even use your extra time to grow as a physician. Maybe you invest some hours into investigating some new procedures, the latest therapies in your field, or explore other ways you might use your medical skills. When your detox is over, consider carefully how you might re-integrate technology more intentionally into your personal life — or if you want to re-integrate it at all. Doing the work These might seem like extreme measures, but creating this level of technological separation is essential to fully understand the role of technology in our lives. Like countless others who have tried it, you likely will find increased levels of attention, increased feelings of emotional wellbeing, and more time for meaningful life experiences. TL;DR Studies show screen time has a negative effect on attention capacity and feelings of depression in children and adolescents. While little research exists on how both affect adults, it’s reasonable to hypothesize similar effects. Doctors, especially, need to be attentive to save lives and reduce depression in the face of physician burnout. A 30-day digital detox will help reset your relationship with technology. Use the time to cultivate more meaningful interactions with friends, family, and nature, or to develop your career. Source
