Put the phone down, save yourself from “technology burnout”

HANCOCK — People have the tendency to blame technology for keeping them too “plugged in”, but what if the secret to curing this “technology burnout” was in the device itself? ABC 10’s Keweenaw Bureau Reporter Alyssa Lambert has details.

Technology has allowed people to stay in contact with each other and the rest of the world, but sometimes, it like a burden, or cause a “technology burnout.” Jeremiah Baumann, Manager of Digital Media and Creative Services at Michigan Tech said the solution lies within ourselves and our devices.

“The big thing is really just taking the time to look at yourself and look at how connected you want to be, said Baumann. “As you start to realize you’re getting burnt out, really take the time to look and kind of write it out and from there, you can make decisions.”

As part of a presentation for Keweenaw Young Professionals, Baumann said taking a break from all technology is possible, as long as you don’t quit cold turkey. However, people don’t have to physically be without their devices to get rid of the burnout.

“A lot of it is just planning ahead, so being connected is different than using technology and I think a lot of the time, they get overlapped, so people hate their cell phones or they hate their computer, but their computer or cell phone is connected ’cause they choose to,” said Baumann.

One suggestion is to download music or movies before needing them and then turning off the data connection or using airplane mode. Another option is to use apps like Headspace, which provide mindfulness training without interrupting notifications. No matter if you have the newest iPhone or only use a computer at work, taking a brief break from staring at a screen is never a bad idea.