One in five men and women are addicted to their smart
phones. Smart phones have changed the way we communicate and our access to
information. It is possible to do almost everything via a smart phone. You can
access your emails, look at documents, text, chat via instant messenger and
engage with twitter and facebook. Have you found that you can’t resist checking
your phone every time you hear a ping or see the light flashing? Are you unable
to not answer the phone if it rings? Is your phone constantly on your person or
near you, even when you go to bed? If the answer to any of these is yes, you
may want to take a look at your behavior and consider that you may have an
addiction.

The purpose of technology gadgets is to provide the user a
tool that makes it easier to access information. The problem with easier and
faster access to information is that men and women have a tendency to become
more impatient.  The entire world seems
to speed up, gaining easier access to human interaction. When this occurs our
brains are constantly being active, never taking a chance to rest until you
fall asleep or burn out. Burning out and experiencing information overload is
extremely unhealthy.

Experiencing burn out is a risk that men and women addicted
to their smart phones should be aware exists. It is more common than one may
think, and the consequences can deeply affect the brain and the body. The human
mind and body is not intended to be active during every waking moment of the
day. We all need time to rest, recharge and relax. If you push yourself too
hard, you will end up not being able to do anything for a period of time, your
body will simply shut down and take the rest that it needs. There are ways to
avoid burn out.

One of the most simple (but not easy) ways to avoid
information overload is to have a set time in the morning when you phone is
turned on and a set time in the evening when it is turned off. You can choose a
special ring tone for important loved ones, in case of an emergency. Doing this
will create a healthy schedule for your body and allow time to unwind and
relax. This will result in an increased quality of sleep, which your body
physically needs. Simply put, not all emails need an immediate response and no
one will hate you if their call goes to voicemail. Set up some boundaries with
your smart phone and your mind and body will be grateful.

Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a Psychotherapist and Life Coach on Celebrity Rehab and the author of “The Law of Sobriety: Attracting Positive Energy for a Powerful Recovery”.  Sherry can be contacted at sherry@sgabatherapy.com, www.sgabatherapy.com, www.thelawofsobriety.com to learn more about her workshops, teleseminars, speaking engagements, and coaching packages.