Do you ever find yourself coming home from a long day of staring at the computer screen at work, just to pull out your laptop and spend the rest of the evening surfing the internet?

If you answered yes, you aren’t alone. As reported by CNN, researchers are saying that constant stimulation from electronics is causing people to suffer from something researcher, David Levy calls “Popcorn Brain.”  As our brain becomes more and more accustom to the “popping,” fast pace stream of information that we find on the internet, we are becoming increasingly less adept to handle the slower pace of real life.

For example, many of us are much more inclined to pull out our laptop or smart phone to check our email, or stay up to date on our friends whereabouts on Facebook, rather than spend time outside or cozy up on the couch with a good book. In short – we have become slaves to technology.

By having such a strong relationship with technology, we could be compromising other aspects of our lives. An important moment in a child’s life, close relationships with friends or family, or interest in hobbies or activities that once brought us joy, all could fall by the wayside while we are busy updating our status. 

To keep your online/offline life in balance, it might be a good idea to incorporate some of these technology “rules” into your daily routine. 

1. Set a limit on how much time you spend online each day. Having a two-hour window to use the Internet when you get home each day will give you more time to do other things you love!
2. Establish “Free Time” each day.  This is a specific time in which you absolutely cannot use your computer.
3. Phone a friend or family member. Or better yet, go visit them! You might surprise yourself with how strong a non-Facebook friendship can be!

Do you think you might have Popcorn Brain? What do you do to make sure you don’t spend too much time online?