“To have a major breakthrough in policy, you have to be able to stop and think.” In today’s The New York Times, Newt Gingrich was quoted as saying this to justify taking a two-week cruise to Greece with his wife shortly after announcing his run for the presidency.
He’s correct about the necessity to stop and think…
The author of a new book “The Digital Diet,” agrees with many of the things I said in my 2009 book “Conquer CyberOverload.” Former science and technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg agrees that many people find it hard to break free from the digital distractions that hinder their lives. However, I disagree with the Quiz he…
I was giving a presentation to a group of students a few weeks ago about Thriving on Campus AND in Cyberspace, with the message that you can get more done in less time if you quit multitasking and take well-timed, brain-enhancing breaks. The students were fascinated by the brain exercises I gave them to prove…
While we’re celebrating Administrative Professionals Week, I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the things many of us have lost as we take care of everything ourselves. The independence is great — who would want to go back to the old days of dictation or writing everything out by hand for someone…
Have you heard about Computer Vision Syndrome? The American Optometric Association says staring at a computer screen for too long creates a variety of problems, including eyestrain, blurred vision, headaches, and dry eyes. Apparently, staring at a pixelated screen is more taxing than reading words on a page. In addition to adding unnecessary stress, this…
A new study has just been described in Psych Central Newsletter that shows that sleeping — even a nap — refreshes your brain and makes it easier to learn new information. It also suggests that if you’re getting six hours a night or less, you’re missing out on a good deal of this refreshment.
This…
At a presentation I recently gave in Atlanta to professionals who help students adjust to college, I was asked about taking notes during lecture. Some people recommend taking notes because it focuses your attention on extracting the main points. Other people argue against it, saying that writing down notes interferes with listening to what the…
I was recently having a conversation about multitasking with a professor colleague of mine. He was saying that he talks on his phone constantly when he’s in the car — using a hands-free device.* Then he went on to say that he continues to talk on the phone as he parks his car and walks…
A few days after did a call-in radio show on Wisconsin Public Radio with Larry Meiller, I got an email from someone who had heard the show and was interested in having me speak to her group. By the time I had a chance to email her back, I received this “away” message from her:
“Dear…
I gave a speech on Sunday at the 30th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience — an organization of professionals who help students adjust to the college experience. I was telling them about the workshops I’ve been giving to college students called “Thriving on Campus and in Cyberspace: Staying Connected While Succeeding in School,”…
