DeepSummary
In this episode of NPR's Body Electric series, host Manoush Zomorodi explores the impact of technology on our breathing patterns. She interviews Linda Stone, a former executive at Apple and Microsoft, who coined the term 'email apnea' or 'screen apnea' after noticing that people tend to hold their breath or breathe shallowly while using computers and smartphones. Linda conducted informal experiments by observing people's breathing while they performed various tasks on screens.
Manoush also speaks with James Nestor, the author of the bestselling book 'Breath,' who explains the importance of proper breathing for overall health and well-being. He discusses the consequences of poor breathing habits, such as increased stress, anxiety, and a higher risk of chronic diseases. James suggests a simple breathing exercise to help reset and improve breathing patterns, especially while using screens.
The episode highlights the need to be mindful of our breathing habits and to incorporate breaks and conscious breathing exercises into our daily routines. It encourages listeners to treat themselves as 'mental athletes' who need to prioritize their physical well-being, particularly when engaged in prolonged screen time, to maintain focus, regulate emotions, and reduce stress.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Prolonged screen time can lead to disrupted breathing patterns, such as holding one's breath or shallow breathing, a phenomenon known as 'screen apnea' or 'email apnea.'
- Poor breathing habits can have long-term negative impacts on physical and mental health, including increased stress, anxiety, and a higher risk of chronic diseases.
- Conscious breathing exercises and taking regular breaks from screens can help reset and improve breathing patterns, promoting better focus, emotional regulation, and overall well-being.
- Adopting a mindset akin to professional performers or pilots, where regulating physical and mental states is crucial for optimal performance, can be beneficial for those engaged in prolonged screen time.
- Treating oneself as a 'mental athlete' and recognizing the importance of physical well-being, including proper breathing and breaks, can help prevent burnout and maintain cognitive function.
- Developing better breathing habits can become automatic and unconscious, leading to noticeable improvements in overall well-being, as supported by data from wearable devices.
- Being mindful of breathing habits and incorporating conscious breathing exercises into daily routines is essential for mitigating the negative effects of prolonged screen time.
- The rise of chronic diseases may be linked to the widespread adoption of personal technology and the disruption of breathing patterns associated with its use.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “As oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide balance are undermined, our whole biochemistry is thrown off. So all of these chronic diseases that have been on the rise and probably follow the same trajectory as the ubiquity of our adoption of personal technology, I began to see that it was probably.“ by Linda Stone
- “Once you establish it, you don't have to think about it. And once you don't have to think about it, you start to notice that you're feeling different. And this is backed up by any wearable that you happen to have on your body.“ by James Nestor
- “What if we take inspiration from the pilot who is able to keep his anxiety and stress in check for the well being of himself and therefore his passengers? What if, like the dancer, we accept that we do our best work when we feel loose and limber?“ by Manoush Zomorodi
- “We are information workers, and instead of that sounding depressing and like a total grind, what if we treat ourselves like the mental athletes we kind of are and accept that there is a body attached to our brains and it needs oxygen and brakes to function best to keep the plane from crashing.“ by Manoush Zomorodi
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Episode Information
TED Radio Hour
NPR
6/11/24
Then, Manoush talks to the bestselling author of Breath, science writer James Nestor, who explains how shallow breathing impacts our physical and mental health. He takes us through a simple exercise to 'reset' our breath and relieve screen time stress.
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