I suspect there’s a link between depression and technology. As more than one of my close and not so close friends succumb to the demon of depression, I wonder what we’re doing!The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We’ve Lost in a World of Constant Connection (link broken, sorry!) outlines some interesting ideas. Especially around the idea of continuous partial attention. This is what hit home with me:
In the short run, these stress hormones boost energy levels and augment memory, but over time they actually impair cognition, lead to depression, and alter the neural circuitry in the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex— the brain regions that control mood and thought. Chronic and prolonged techno-brain burnout can even reshape the underlying brain structure.
Perhaps if you’re feeling it, you could consider a media fast?
Or take an aspirin, it may work more quickly and just as effectively.
And you can pay attention to the story you’re telling yourself, whether it’s helpful or not. Jim Loehr talks about how important it is to “not tank” between points (he works with tennis players – between point is where they win or loss a game). As an aside, he mentions how your correcting voice becomes your child’s inner voice (so it’s important to be as supportive AND as helpful as possible).
