Give It a Rest!
The screen on my phone is cracked so I took it in to get it replaced while it is still covered under its extended warranty. So I have a loaner phone. I’m kind of a techy, but since I only have the loaner for a couple of weeks, I am not bothering to learn how to use it too well. I wasn’t even able to answer it the first day. I now know the basics, but I think I’m even missing voice mails.
But I’ve discovered something. The break has been nice. My other phone can pretty much do anything, from surfing the web, to giving me voice turn-by-turn directions to a specified address, taking high quality pictures and video, checking the news, weather & traffic, listen to music, and on and on I could go. But now while I am sitting and waiting at the dentist’s office, or forced into some other kind of idle time, it’s just that….idle. At first, I didn’t know what to do with myself; nothing electronic to play with. Then I learned that just sitting and waiting was actually enjoyable (been a while since I’ve done that!)
Now, I just read an article in The New York Times about a series of studies conducted on the human brain. It seems that those of us who carry these high tech devices are becoming “learning disabled” so to speak, because we don’t give our brains enough down time to process all the info we are taking in. Well, it’s not just those with smart phones. It includes those who have to have their iPod playing while exercising and who need to turn the TV on when they have a chance to sit down at home. The problem these researches are finding is that the brain does not store information during high input time. It needs rest in order to process that information as it reorganizes the data and sends important items into long term memory. These scientists are telling us that being bored, at least for a short time, is good for our ability to remember things and reason through complex thought processes. A lot of us who think we are aging prematurely and becoming forgetful are just needing to give our brains more of a break.
God told His people from the very beginning that we are designed to take breaks. That’s why He created the system of day and night, and told us to take a day off every week. Jesus was a pretty good example here. While He was the model of strength, He scheduled in his days, weeks and months, time away from the crowds and his ministry, to get away and alone. I’ve been trying to do that. The trouble is….I’ve been bringing my phone and my laptop!
I think I’m learning a valuable lesson. I’m going to try to give my brain a rest so that I have it to use effectively when it is on. And I’m going to try to get away from all these electronic devices periodically (I did speak on addiction last week, remember?).
How about you? Are you giving your brain the rest it needs? I’ve learned that the best rest for me is time away and alone with God! (I learned that from Jesus’ example.) Give it a try. You might find that in the end, you get more done. And when you need to be on, you really will be!