The best thing one could do to ease technostress, is - practice self-calming techniques, get proper sleep, eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water
It is a matter of routine; also, clockwork. From the time we get up each morning until the time we go to bed each night, we are like a parched mop. We are constantly taking in far too much information than required, thanks to a glut, or never-ending tags of information out there. For the most part, 65 per cent of information is absorbed by our eyes and brain; 25 per cent from sound; and, the residual 10 per cent from flavour, feeling and smell. During wakeful hours, our brain is obviously flooded with sensory information. The flow is so enormous that we can't think clearly at times. Call it 'sensory overload,' the fact is 'too' much information and nerve-racking multi-tasking present themselves as our ego's 'best' billboard. The outcome is mental fatigue, or burnout.
It is ironical that enough is not enough for our information surfeit, which is also a part of the frenetic pace of change, where you are living your life, or career, at excess speed. You have just two options - fasten your seat belt and ride the information shuttle at the speed of thought, or walk out of such entrapped sensory stimuli to give your mind a well-deserved rest. It is a thin dividing line, indeed - from hectic activity to balance and inner peace. While most corporates pontificate that you ought to maintain work-life balance, they do not often encourage us to do so. The paradox also is most of us are not conscious that we have a choice - although some of us know that we should 'unplug' ourselves from the outside world and calm the turbulence in our mind, while reconnecting with our deepest self that is pleading for conscious attention.
Notwithstanding advances in science and technology, a dividing wall continues to confront philosophers and mind researchers about the foundations of our active mind and our functioning brain. Most mind scientists extol the idea that the mind is much more than a corollary of brain functioning, with a multitude of neurochemicals, or peptides, responsible for each thought and feeling. On the contrary, new advances in consciousness reveal that the mind and consciousness are independent of the brain.
While we all agree that the brain is our key organ of preference, new developments in brain research suggest that every cell in your body has its own sense of conscious awareness. This is the reason why all of us concur that surplus sensory stimulation can lead to sloppy focus, mental exhaustion, abridged decision making, warped communication skills and, possibly, hyperactivity in children, while triggering a stressful state. The only way you can balance your mind, body and soul is by taking regular pauses, like moving out of your workspace in office, and preventing mental fatigue and reduced productivity, or creativity. As Oscar Wilde wrote wittily, but in a different context, "It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information."
You'd do well to think of your mind as a TV signal, with each of your five senses functioning like specific TV channels on the remote. What does this signify? That too much of TV viewing, OTT watching, or mobile phone, among other gadgets, can lead to mental inertia like excess information. This can twist your thinking abilities, while affecting your best intentions, thoughts and behaviour. The best way to seek balance between this frenzied state and a serene world of inner peace is to enter stillness every day and allow serenity to fill your mind. This can be achieved by setting aside a little time, each day - and, disengaging from our 'automated' world. In other words, you'd turn off your TV, cell phone and computer etc., for some time, each day. This is not a mind-rattling act, but 'mindful awakening.'
As Elizabeth Marsh, a PhD candidate, at the School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK, suggests that subjects, in her research, with higher levels of mindfulness, tended to be less overwhelmed by technology. They talked about avoiding multi-tasking online - for example, reading e-mails while on a video call - as well as establishing clear boundaries around its use, such as only using technology at certain times of the day. It is worth noting that some people were uneasy about taking time to disconnect, noting that they feared being seen as slacking, or falling behind. Overall, participants who were more confident with technology experienced less anxiety. And, those who were more mindful appeared better protected from the negative aspects of digital working. Marsh contends that her research elucidates that although digital mindfulness and confidence are important for employee well-being, ultimately mindfulness is more effective than confidence with technology in protecting against technostress.
Studies also suggest that sensory overload can occur to anyone, but it is more common in autistic individuals and people with ADHD, PTSD and certain other conditions. Sensory overload ensues when the brain 'fights' to interpret, prioritise, or otherwise process sensory inputs. It communicates to the body that it is time to escape these sensory inputs. This message causes feelings of distress and alarm. Symptoms of sensory overload include an incapacity to disregard loud sounds, strong smells, or other types of sensory input, a sense of disquiet, anxiety and fear, extreme sensitivity to clothing, or other textures, feeling overawed, or disturbed, tetchiness, loss of attention, agitation, stress and sleeplessness, among others.
The best thing one could do to ease sensory overload, or technostress, is - practice self-calming techniques, get proper sleep, manage health, eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Besides, one should aim at reducing the number of stimulating activities, also set boundaries and, most importantly, seek professional help when they are struggling with sensory overload, or technostress.
Nidamboor is a wellness physician, independent researcher and author
