The Bad Mentality of Apps
Apps help us to do a lot of things easily but they are also responsible for how we feel every day
“There’s an app for that!”
That’s what my friend told me immediately after I explained how much water I drank every day.
We had been walking and talking and the conversation had drifted into exercise and keeping healthy in general.
Once he said this though I stayed silent and wondered to myself:
“How ironic?!”
After all, I didn’t even have an iPhone or Smartphone. Sure, I had a mobile phone because in the modern-day as a self-employed person who was single I felt I needed some way of fitting in and being contactable, but it had no internet coverage on it. In fact, the phone I had was a Nokia 3310. It was first released in the year 2000, and it didn’t even have a camera on it so downloading an app was far too advanced for it!
But it suited me and kept my mental health.
Cocaine To The Brain:
Excessive Smartphone usage has been likened to the effects of cocaine on the brain. By constantly holding and checking the device our brains are conditioning us to become addicted to them. Using these devices constantly sends pleasurable signals that increase the dopamine in our brains and this motivates addiction.
“So what does cocaine do to our brain?”
This is a reply I should have said to my friend once they assured me that all apps could help your health. Of course, I didn’t reply at the time so it’s time to investigate it now a little further.
Over time the excessive use of cocaine can:
- Make you headaches,
- Make you overly emotional and moody,
- your ability to control your sense of smell can be damaged,
- Paranoia can occur,
- It’s possible that they can develop Parkinson’s disease,
- You can get an erratic or irregular heartbeat,
- You can experience seizures.
As if this list wasn’t bad enough, using cocaine can also result in death!
The Increase in Global Smartphone Usage:
But even though excessive use of smartphones can really harm your mental health, the usage of smartphones has increased over the years globally.
Let’s take a peek at the statistics just to see how much this has happened:
- In 2016 there were 4.3 billion mobiles in the world, of which 2.5 billion were smartphones,
- In 2017 there were 4.4 billion mobiles in the world, of which 2.7 billion were smartphones,
- In 2018 there were 4.6 billion mobiles in the world, of which 2.9 billion were smartphones,
- In 2019 there were 4.7 billion mobiles in the world, of which 3.2 billion were smartphones,
- In 2020 there were 4.8 billion mobiles in the world, of which 3.5 billion were smartphones.
Over that five-year period, it’s clear that with the rising consumption of mobile phones worldwide there is also a similar rise in the use of smartphones. During that period, a greater increase in using smartphones came in 2019. Of course, that was when Asia was experiencing Covid-19 for the first time. Within months and into early 2020, people around the whole world were forced into lockdown and disconnected from their friends.
As the first case of Covid-19 was only discovered in December 2019 it’s not fair to say that the increase in the sales of smartphones came because of Covid-19, but it’s clear by the end of 2020 that as people continued to purchase them they were doing more so than the previous few years.
Smart Phones Help Work:
There’s no doubt that some occupations can be completed easier with the use of smartphones.
As they allow the user to be mobile and use the internet with a big screen it gives employees the flexibility to work on the move. That means people can do several things at once, and in theory, get more things done faster. But doing things faster doesn’t necessarily mean it’s making you more productive.
Although you may think you can be more productive by doing two or more things at once, our brains just don’t work that simply.
Freedom of Mind:
By being online while on the move it means employers have more control over people’s movement which defeats the purpose of feeling open in your mind.
Getting out and exercising it’s great for your mental health. Not only does it mean you are increasing your cardiovascular fitness but there are many social benefits received by bumping into people as you get out and about.
If you have to use a smartphone maybe just leave it at home for a while you walk outside for a while. Let your mind wander and take in the joys of nature. Breathe in the fresh air that will heal your lungs and soften your anxiety of mind.
Better still, leave your phone at home and go for a walk with a friend. And unlike me, if they say something and you don’t agree with them, make sure to speak your mind and let it be free!
