Digital amnesia (or digital amnesia in English) means that it does not manage to remember certain information on our smartphone (phone numbers, passwords, routes, etc.). And for good reason, as our brain knows that this information is easily accessible online, it tends not to record it. “”What we know about the brain and memory is that the principle “use it or lose it” applies fully “, explains Cynthia Borja, project manager at The Decision Lab, at CNBC Make It. “”If you are systematically resting on Google to remember information, and you do not ask for your memory, your brain eventually specializes in oblivion “, she deplores. The expert offers three steps to gradually detach from Google and improve her ability to remember.
Wait before you draw your phone
It is not because information does not come back to you immediately in memory that you are unable to remember it. Before looking on Google a question you have already asked, Cynthia Borja recommends taking a few minutes to try to find the answer for yourself“Even if it does not work immediately and you must still do the search, you will gradually strengthen your memory circuits and improve your recall capacity”, she explains.
Note what you want to remember
When you come across online information that you would like to keep in mind, take the time to write it. “Note by hand not only makes it possible to better remember things, but that also forces you to get more involved in what you do”, explains Cynthia Borja.
Consider things differently
The next time you discover a new recipe or learn something you don’t want to forget, like you could never seek it again. This simple change of state of mind can help you better anchor information in your memory. “It is important to use technology as a support tool”, underlines Cynthia Borja“But it is equally essential to keep our brain active, committed and capable of remembering itself”. Besides, this mental effort to stimulate memory should not be limited to Google research. “”If we systematically rely on a calculator, even to carry out simple operations, we risk forgetting the multiplication tables learned as children “, she adds. Also, the next time you want to make your favorite dessert or remember a DIY tip, only use Google.