Five bad but hard-to-break tech habits

'Google' immediately

Thanks to the internet and search engines like Google, people have a nearly limitless supply of information at their fingertips. However, relying on such readily available tools can lead to impaired memory.

Image:City Journal

According to experts, the first thing you think of when answering a question or remembering an event is "Google it," which likely means you've become too reliant on this tool. Over time, your mind will no longer be as quick at thinking and coming up with solutions – essential for critical thinking, problem-solving, and memory retention.

To break this habit, users should try to find the answer through reasoning, or use a search engine but memorize the answer for future use.

Holding the phone unconsciously.

Many people casually pick up their phones, then scroll through the screen to view information or entertainment without really paying attention to what they're doing. This behavior is considered increasingly difficult to change; some don't even realize they're holding a smartphone until it's in their hand.

However, the habit of constantly using smartphones does more harm than good, as they consume a lot of time, preventing the body from resting. To reduce this, users can put them down and then exercise or engage in physical activity. They don't need to quit using their phones completely, but should choose ways to use them without picking them up, such as listening to podcasts or music.

FOMO on social media

The fear of missing out, or FOMO, is increasingly prevalent in the connected age. When engaging in social media, users often feel a fear of missing out on something happening. As a result, they frequently access the internet compulsively or unconsciously.

Several studies have shown that persistent FOMO can lead to feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and envy towards others, affecting mental health and impacting real life, resulting in decreased mental well-being and work productivity.

According to experts, when participating in social media, users should limit their time spent online, turn off notifications on their smartphones, and even delete their accounts to avoid negatively impacting their lives.

Notifications cannot be customized.

Notifications are one of the useful features on smartphones, but they can also be disruptive. On the one hand, notifications help keep you updated on important information and events. On the other hand, their sounds are a distraction, preventing users from focusing on what they are doing.

To minimize notification distractions, users should mute notifications for non-essential apps. For example, you can mute notifications for entertainment, shopping, or social media apps at work.

Downloading too many apps

Many people have a habit of installing numerous apps on their devices and keeping them instead of deleting them after a long period of disuse. However, experts say this habit is not good. Besides consuming a lot of device resources, users can also be bothered and distracted by various notifications.