Answer this question honestly: How much are you relying on your phone over the course of your day? My own answer is, too much. ChatGPT is just a moment away and I find it to be a great resource. But there are trade offs.

Too much screen time is impacting our brains, and not in a good way necessarily. It can cause dopamine overload, shortened attention spans (like I need more of that. I’m already easily distracted), and memory impairment. In a recent podcast interview, I learned that some children can’t self-regulate themselves without watching a screen while they ate. This is a 911.

Our brains are wired for community. No screens can take the place of the human connection that meaningful conversations produce. And we feel better when we spend time with good people rather than focusing our attention on our phones.

We need our phones, no doubt. But I encourage you to keep them in perspective. Go to lunch or Happy Hour with someone you enjoy being around. Your brain will thank you, but probably not verbally. And if you think you hear a voice, go see a psychiatrist!