Is Your “Computer Brain” Affecting Your Eating Habits?

You’re at your computer working on a project, checking your work email every few minutes. Of course, you have to check your personal email frequently … maybe too frequently … The texts are flying in to make after work plans. Your day is filled with online chats, IM’s, facebook news feed and phone calls – many occurring simultaneously. Your brain is in “computer overdrive mode” and experts say this is affecting concentration levels, stress levels as well as how we think and behave. It can also be affecting your eating habits!

Does this sound familiar?
– You always check your email before doing other things
– You constantly have a little voice telling you to check email/texts/vm
– Have you ever chosen to go online rather than go out with people?
– Do other people in your life complain about the amount of time you spend using technology?
– You find it difficult to even go to the gym without your phone (what if you miss an important text or email?)
– Leave your Blackberry on the table while on a date (nice…) 
– You pick up a not-so-healthy take out dinner (who wants to spend the time cooking) while checking out facebook and answering texts with the tv on in the background.

If this sounds familiar, it is likely you have computer brain overdrive. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego say people consume 12 hours of media a day on average, when an hour spent with, say, the Internet and TV simultaneously counts as two hours. That compares with five hours in 1960. Computer users visit an average of 40 Web sites a day, according to research by RescueTime, which offers time-management tools. Experts say our ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information. This is also increasing our stress levels and how we think and behave.  And scientists are discovering that even after the multitasking ends, fractured thinking and lack of focus persist.

My personal observation
While I am far from a cutting edge techie, I find myself feeling distracted and stressed at times when multitasking: working on project on the computer, frquently checking 3 different email accounts, responding to texts and answering my work phone that rings nonstop. So what do I do? Get up and go look for food (preferably chocolate) when feeling this stress. I have also noticed that it takes longer to complete a project than it should have without these distractions.

Possible effects of “computer brain” on food intake
1. Increased stress levels can lead to more cravings and weight gain.
2. More time spent with various technology devices  means less time cooking/preparing meals.
3. More time sitting on your butt at the computer means less time to exercise!
4. Feeling “less in the moment” whether it comes to spending time with family, friends or just enjoying your food! Studies have shown that “computer brain” continues on even after you have stopped using the technology devices. 
5. It can have an effect on your sleep. Less sleep means more craving for carbs.

Tips to decrease computer brain’s effect on your eating habits
1. Try to set aside some time each day without your phone/computer. The most crucial times would be about an hour before bed or while you are eating. I would also recommend shutting off your personal phone for periods of time during the day. Start with an hour and build up. Leave your phone in your gym locker.

2. Set a curfew as to when you will get off the computer at night. Being on the computer right before bed can have a negative impact on your sleep.(Ok – I will try to practice what I preach on this one!)

3. When the urge to eat hits you, pay attention to your body’s cues. Are you really hungry or is the urge coming from stress, anxiety, frustration, etc.?  Of course, if it has been 4 hours since your last meal, it is likely hunger. But if you just ate an hour ago … likely not!

4. If you feel emotions, such as stress, are causing the desire to eat, try to delay this urge by 5 minutes or so. Preferably get out of the environment, away from your computer. Talk a 5 minute walk … and leave your phone at your desk. Chances are that you will no longer feel as strong a desire to raid the vending machine!

5. Keep all problem foods out of your environment. This way if the computer munchies strike, you won’t be able to dive into a bag of cookies. Stock up on healthy snacks.

6. When you do eat a meal, pay attention to what you are eating and enjoy it! If you inhale your food while on the computer, you won’t even realize that you ate and will soon be looking for more food.

7. Incorporate stress management into your life. Exercise is a great stress reliever. You also might want to try yoga. Download my Free Newsletter: Dietary Tips to Manage Stress  

8. Don’t depend upon ordering out for all your dinners. Yes, preparing meals takes some time (away from the computer, tv, etc.) but it is healthier and cheaper than always ordering out. Made a large batch of food one day and save for leftovers the next few nights.
 

Bottom line, we’ve experienced numerous benefits from the advancement of technology – from a business, personal and even health standpoint (i.e. helps to keep our brains sharp). However studies are showing that spending too much time on technology can have adverse effects. We need to set limits and spend more time with our family, friends and pay more attention to what we eat!

Check out the NYT article for the full story