If your memory is slipping, it may be time to dial back your phone use.
I’VE RECENTLY NOTICED myself blanking on things I never thought I’d forget—like my own zip code. Maybe I just have a lot on my mind. Or maybe the iPhone glued to my hand is part of the problem.
A 2016 study in the journal Memory showed that relying on tech makes our brains lazy: Researchers found that when people were allowed to Google answers to difficult questions, they became more likely to turn to the search engine to help answer simple ones as well. Smartphones also hamper our ability to recall things by overwhelming our mind with distractions, says Susan Lehmann, MD, clinical director of geriatric psychiatry and neuropsychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “When you use these devices, you’re often switching quickly between topics or conversations,” she says. “That rapid change in focus can prevent an idea or thought from sufficiently registering in your memory.”
Want to bolster your powers of recall? Try these savvy tips.
Hide your device.
This story is from the March 2018 edition of The Oprah Magazine.
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This story is from the March 2018 edition of The Oprah Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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