No one will be surprised to learn that texting is nearly universal among
young adults with cell phones (so, um, all of them?). According to the data, 97
percent of cell phone users under 30 text every day. Oldsters are not far behind
them: 92 percent of the 30 to 49 set text every day and 72 percent of the 50 to
64 age group do
too. And while texting can be a great way to stay in touch, to make seamless plans
and to share the minor frustrations and comedies of daily life in almost real
time, it sure has a downside. What do we lose when we settle for the plugged-in
and tuned-out life? Read on to learn why it really might be time to put the
phone down -- even if it's just for an hour or an afternoon or a
day. 1. It'll help you sleep better tonight We all know that cell phone use during the wee hours can be disruptive to our
sleep patterns, but it's also true that texting during the day could harm our
ability to get a good night's sleep, according to a recent study in the journal
Psychology of Popular Media
Culture. In the study, researchers followed the stress levels, texting habits and
sleep of first year college students. They found that regardless of stress
levels, the more people texted during the day the poorer their sleep
was. 2. Your divided attention could keep you from what's truly
important We're not just talking about missing special moments -- although surely,
texting during time spent with loved ones can prevent full engagement. We're
talking about priorities. 3. Your posture is suffering Texting can actually harm your whole body. People get so focused on these
devices that they end up holding their neck and upper back in abnormal positions
for a long period of time; enough that other people coined the phrase ‘text
neck,’ which is essentially referring to postural
pain. Want to counteract the effect of all this stooping and texting? Bring your
phone to eye level while you use it or actually training for your endurance
texting with back, neck and core strengthening exercises. Oh, and give your
phone a
rest! 4. We can't believe we still have to say this, but it disrupts your
driving Hopefully you know by now that you can't text and drive (since it's the law
and all), but an astounding 80 percent of college-aged drivers admit to engaging
in this behavior, despite knowing how dangerous it can
be. You are 23 times more likely to crash if you're texting behind the wheel,
according to a federal report. And cell phone use was associated with 18 percent
of "distraction"-related
deaths. 5. It makes you a less responsible
pedestrian Even if you aren't driving, your texting could be a liability to the people
around you. A study in the British Medical Journal found that one in three
people are distracted by mobile devices while walking and that texting was the
most distracting of all the mobile activities -- including listening to music
and talking on the
phone. The researchers observed more than 1,000 pedestrians during rush hour in
Seattle and recorded their phone habits and safety precautions as they crossed
traffic junctions. They reported that texting pedestrians were almost four times
more likely to ignore traffic lights, fail to look both ways at a cross and to
cross outside of the demarcated
crosswalk. 6. Your school or work performance will
suffer Your texting could be holding back your productivity at work or school.
According to one study of college students, female first year students spend an
average 12 hours texting and engaging in social media -- and extensive media use
is associated with lower academic performance.
But it isn't just college students who face texting distractions. A study
conducted at the University of Michigan found that short interruptions at work
-- even just the duration of reading or sending a text -- can increase the
number of errors a worker makes during a single task, reported
HealthDay. 7. It can prevent you from really enjoying the activities you
cherish Google executive Bonita Stewart banishes her cell phone from her ballet class
so that she can enjoy her dance practice unfettered by her to-do
list. |
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