The word simplify is defined as, “to make less complex or complicated; make plainer or easier.” It seems straightforward enough, but when it comes to mental health or perspective, it just never is as “simple" as that.
In this brave new world of hyper-technological change, our mental landscape can be cluttered with ideas, advertisements and entertainment that, at times, all seem to merge into a cognitive mess.
Our mental state can feel like freshly stirred up alphabet soup: an unintelligible swirl of thoughts that create complications, isolation and disconnection. Disconnection is the main ingredient of anxiety and depression.
How is it possible to simplify thoughts and, in turn, life, when so much information constantly pushes us in different directions?
Technology, like any powerful tool, can be used to help improve and attain health or, when not managed efficiently, create unmovable barriers to happiness.
Choosing apps and digital information that can lead to a mindfulness or positive perspective is as important to your brain as choosing healthy food and liquids for your body. Or, considering your brain’s influence over your body and spirit, perhaps more important.
Some meditation apps can connect people around the world who have a common goal of mindfulness. Choosing an app with a social element can be a remedy to the problem of disconnection that our accelerated information age creates.
When I was young, my room was full of overburdened bookshelves holding a mess of vinyl records, books and other “stuff.” The vinyl records were later replaced with cassettes and, after that, CDs.
Today, all the books, music and, seemingly everything else ever invented, can exist on a hard drive the size as my thumb. That leap in technology seems like magic and an obvious path to simplification and happiness, but, that’s not necessarily totally true, I’ve found out.
Everyone has to personalize the extent that information technologies help or harm us mentally and spiritually.
I’ve realized the line in the digital sand, for me, is turning books into digital files. I’m okay with every piece of music I’ve ever liked, or ever will like, disappearing into the digital ether, but, I’ve discovered that being surrounded by actual physical books has a calming and grounding effect on my consciousness. The sight, touch and even smell of books feels good to me. The immediate environment I create will influence my thoughts and then my emotional state.
A quick cost/benefit analysis of the situation tells me I’m keeping the books even though they feel like cement when moved in boxes.
I’m much happier typing this column on my sleek, efficient laptop than an old clunky manual typewriter of the 1970s. Editing and writing in general is much easier. Unnecessary waste from the process is lessened: the waste basket full of crumpled white paper is not in the picture.
My computer is a simplified and improved technology between me and these words. The thin and light laptop stays.
Simplification and our relationship to information technology is as different as each person who uses it. The one thing in common is our power to let technology be a cluttering, destructive force or a tool for improvement and cognitive health.
Robert Skender is a qathet region freelance writer and health commentator.
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