Richard Cytowic: Getting off our screens

Be honest, how much time do you spend looking at screens? It’s probably more than you’d care to admit. The bigger question is, what is all that screen time doing to your brain? In this episode I am joined by Richard Cytowic, author of Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age. We discuss the impact of screen addiction on the brain and body. Astonishingly, Richard explains that our brains have not evolved since the Stone Age. They also have fixed energy bandwidths that make multitasking inefficient, which leads to overwhelm and a dulled ability to communicate. Richard emphasises the importance of self-awareness for overcoming our addiction to screens, and the power of silence to help our brains to regulate themselves. If you are looking to boost productivity in your workplace this discussion is not to be missed. “Self-awareness is key to managing screen time” – Richard You'll hear about: 00:00 - Start 01:09 - What's going on in our brains? 04:54 - How does energy relate to neuroplasticity? 11:25 - What does the screen do to the brain? 13:37 - The lack of screen regulations 16:20 - How to start a healthier relationship with screens 20:23 - The power of silence 25:50 - Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable 27:51 - The role and power of dream diaries 30:15 - Richard's advice for CEOs 32:17 - What does Richard's best day look like? 34:59 - The impact Richard wants to have on the world About Richard Cytowic: Richard E. Cytowic, a pioneering researcher in synesthesia, is Professor of Neurology at George Washington University. He is the author of Synesthesia, The Man Who Tasted Shapes, The Neurological Side of Neuropsychology, and, with David M. Eagleman, the Montaigne Medal–winner Wednesday Is Indigo Blue: Discovering the Brain of Synesthesia, all published by the MIT Press. Resources: • Profile: https://cytowic.net/ • Book ‘Your stone age brain in the screen age’ https://mitpress.mit.edu/978026204900... • TED talk: What percentage of your brain do you use? https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_e_c... My resources: Take my new Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation. For more details about me: ● Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals. ● About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy. ● Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) ● Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) ● Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)