12 Signs You're 'Drowning In Data' And Experiencing A Digital Overload
12 Signs You're Experiencing A Digital Overload
Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK
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If you spend a good portion of your day with a phone glued to your hand (and your eyes firmly fixed on the screen) then chances are you're a serious tech-addict. And it's not good news.
"We are spending increasing amounts of time online just trying to manage the 360-degree deluge of content," she writes.
"Our time, rather than being spent productively, is being ambushed by the checking, responding to and managing of both personal and professional emails, texts and social updates - leaving very little time for actual living."
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"Our greatest attachment seems to have become to a digital device," Fielding continues. "We are spending more time interacting with our smartphones than with anyone or anything else.
"The people we would like to spend time with are spending their time connecting with other people contained in a 2-inch screen."
"We are finding it harder to unplug, renew ourselves and make a real connection with ourselves and others," she adds. "The first stages of the Internet were about data and more data. But now we have plenty of data - indeed, we're drowning in it - and all the distraction we could ever hope for.
"Technology has been very good at giving us what we want, but not always what we need."
With Arianna's words ringing in your ears, it's worth taking a moment to assess how much plugging-in you do during the day. If you feel lost without your device then chances are you need to step away from the tech and give yourself a rest.
Unconvinced that you're a tech-addict?
Here are 12 signs of digital overload. If you identify with more than six of these, then it might be time to undertake a digital detox and reboot your life.
12 Signs Of Digital Overload
(01 of12)
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Checking your digital device first thing in the morning, getting up during the night to check for messages, and regularly using some form of digital device in bed. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)
(02 of12)
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Slipping away from activities with people in order to check email or social networking sites. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)
(03 of12)
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Checking your smartphone while at a meal with others. (credit:LDProd via Getty Images)
(04 of12)
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Bumping into someone because you were paying attention to your smartphone instead of looking where you were going. (credit:Joe Patronite via Getty Images)
(05 of12)
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Spending little time outside, rarely taking breaks and often eating at your desk. (credit:Astronaut Images via Getty Images)
(06 of12)
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Finding it hard to complete a task without frequently breaking away to check email or unrelated websites, often checking the same sites repeatedly within a short period of time. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)
(07 of12)
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Getting distracted easily when offline and finding it hard to focus fully on one area, or finding yourself unable to switch off your multitasking tendencies even when you're not multitasking. (credit:triloks via Getty Images)
(08 of12)
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Spending little time in face-to-face interactions with friends. Choosing to spend time online rather than going out, and preferring to use Skype or FaceTime to see people, even if you live near each other. (credit:David Malan via Getty Images)
(09 of12)
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Being with family members but spending most of your time at home in separate rooms interacting with screens, often finding that one monitor is no longer enough to suit your needs. (credit:Andrew Rich via Getty Images)
(10 of12)
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Frequently using digital devices to entertain and keep a child occupied instead of talking, singing, playing or reading to them. (credit:Morsa Images via Getty Images)
(11 of12)
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Going online or using a digital device when you feel stressed or want to avoid an unpleasant task. Using the internet as a way of escaping problems. (credit:Hocus Focus Studio via Getty Images)
(12 of12)
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Wanting to stop using your smartphone and finding that you just can't, having tried repeatedly but unsuccessfully to control your Internet use. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)