Scrolling Through Social Media Doesn’t Give A Mental Break
How many times today have you checked your Twitter, Facebook or Instagram feeds?
Many of us turn to our cell phones for breaks from work or school but a new study suggests that the break we think we’re getting actually has the opposite effect. Scrolling through your phone can have a negative effect on mental efficiency.
In the study, participating college undergrads who took a phone break mid-task took 19% longer to finish the task and solved 22% fewer problems than those who spent a break on a computer or on paper. Researchers say this is so because just the sight of our cell phones causes us to immediately think about checking emails, making contact with people and even more. They state that people “have half a mind on their phones at all times”.
So if you’re really looking for a mental break then put down your cell phones and pick up a book!
Intern Crystal
