In a recent article in the New York Times, Laura Holson reports on an increase in the number of people who are taking breaks from social media.  People, "seemingly weary" of half-minute news cycles, inane Twitter posts and viral distractions, are disabling social apps and other media feeds from their phones. Some researchers are suggesting that this may be a backlash (or just sheer exhaustion) from the dreaded FOMO ("fear of missing out"). 

This semester, Radius has been hosting monthly mindfulness lunches (Hack Your Mind: Eat. Learn. Meditate).  Attendance at these sessions has been extraordinary--far more people are interested and eager to learn than we had first anticipated.  Our March program focused on technology that could assist in "powering down" or using technology to help keep its seeming dominance in check.  Reading this New York Times article reported on how pervasive technology's hold on us is, but also reminded us that we do have the choice to dial down its influence.  

On Friday, April 17th, we'll host our final workshop of the semester.  Jud Brewer, MD, PhD, the Director for Mindfulness at the UMASS Medical School (and an MIT research affiliate) will be discussing the addictive nature of technology and ways to use mindfulness to get control of our tech habits.  Please join us!  The young people mentioned in the New York Times article are probably not alone.  There are many of us out there trying to wrest control of our technological lives.