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EP.11: HAPPINESS AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE DIGITAL ERA: AMY BLANKSON

August 2, 2017 by Larry Weeks Leave a Comment

What we’re trying to do is figure out what leads us to the edge of the happiness cliff, that point at which we have maximum productivity, maximum happiness without going over the edge – Amy Blankson

There is no doubt that technology in the 20th century has brought advances unimaginable in previous eras. In the US gross domestic product per capita quintupled from 1950 to 2016. Things that were once luxu­ries have become affordable commodities.

However, with such advances, computers and all that comes with them, internet, games, email, etc., are now in our pockets, purses or strapped to bodies. They are extensions of ourselves.

Tech companies pay big money to UX designers and engineers to create devices and apps that grab and keep your attention. They high want high engagement metrics. They need you to spend time in an app or a video and to come back, over and over.

So we all know it impacts our productivity but what about our happiness? What is the impact of a world of screens and notifications on our cognitive behavior and development? What about our relationships?

Enter Amy Blankson, my guest on this episode. Amy has become the world’s leading expert on the connection between happiness and technology. Amy is an alum of both Harvard and Yale and has worked with organizations like NASA, Google, the US Army, and the Xprize Foundation to help improve well-being in a Digital Era.

Amy states the problem in terms of discernment. “There’s this pain point about technology and happiness with technology specifically draining happiness because people feel overwhelmed. They don’t know what to do with all the information… and how to evaluate what’s actually good for them.”

There is now a condition called Nomophobia, as in no-mo(bile) phone-phobia. It’s a fear of being without your smartphone. Seriously, a phobia and 40% of Americans “suffer” from it.

One in five young adults admits to using a smartphone during sex. What?

Okay, I’ll cop to using the phone in the bathroom, so I need help.

We are in uncharted territory.

Amy says that we absolutely need to look at our relationship with technology very carefully but what she came away with from her research was surprising to me; that time on the screen is not necessarily a bad thing.

Time on the screen is not necessarily bad. What is bad is the unintentional non-thoughtful use of the technology – Amy Blankson

In fact, she goes further stating that technology can actually increase happiness – IF you use it wisely

There’s the rub. Using it wisely

On this episode we discuss what she learned writing her new book, The Future of Happiness. Amy talks about how we can mitigate the dispiriting effects tech can have and rather leverage it to increase our happiness. She’s done the research and has the data on what you can do in the midst of work / life to harness tech to serve your real needs in relation to happiness: social connection, meaning, and well-being.

Amy answers a lot of questions I had on the podcast like…

  • Is there an inverse relationship between personal happiness and tech innovation?
  • How should we use Facebook, or should we abandon it?
  • Would we be happier without tech?
  • What is the impact of distraction on our well-being?
  • How do I manage all my apps to minimize distraction?
  • What about wearables?
  • What do we teach our kids regarding appropriate tech boundaries – what exactly IS appropriate?
  • Are there specific apps that can helps us become happier and healthier?

Give it a listen.

Resources discussed in this episode 

  • The Future of Happiness book
  • Amyblankson.com
  • RealizeD app
  • Spirestone
  • My Fitness Pal
  • Muse
  • Headspace 
  • Rosetta Stone 
  • Lifesum
  • Amy’s best app and gadget recommendations
  • Google Home 
  • Her

 

Filed Under: Business, Career, Happiness, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Team building

About Larry Weeks

X-Googler | technologist | bibliophile | author. Compelled to talk to interesting people, ask bad questions and record it on the Bounce podcast

« EP.10: AFTER CANCER: DR. WENDY HARPHAM, HAPPY IN A STORM
EP. 12: HOW TO BOUNCE BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN: A TALK WITH JAMES ALTUCHER »

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Podcast Archive

  • EP. 32: A FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN EFFORT: J.J. SUTHERLAND
  • EP. 31: THE TECH FALLACY: GERALD KANE ON WHY PEOPLE ARE THE KEY TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • EP. 30: Learning To Live With Learning Machines: Kartik Hosanagar On Algorithms and Agency:
  • EP.29: WORKING WITH A.I. : ROB MAY ON THE HYPE AND REALITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
  • EP: 28. MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: SETH GODIN ON MODERN MARKETING
  • EP. 27: THE WISDOM ASSET: CHIP CONLEY ON AIRBNB, AGE, REINVENTION AND RELEVANCE
  • EP. 26: SECOND CHANCES: CATHERINE HOKE ON REDEMPTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • EP.25: MELTDOWNS: CHRIS CLEARFIELD ON PREVENTING SYSTEM FAILURES
  • EP.24: MEANING AND WORK: FRED KOFMAN ON THE ROI OF PURPOSE
  • EP 23: MOTIVATION MYTHS: JEFF HADEN ON PROCESS VS. PASSION
  • EP.22: HOW TO THINK IN BETS: ANNIE DUKE ON POKER, PROBABILITIES AND BETTER DECISIONS
  • EP.21: MEDITATION FOR FIDGETY SKEPTICS: JEFF WARREN ON A DIFFERENT WAY OF BEING
  • EP. 20: CHOICE ARCHITECTURE: RORY SUTHERLAND ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ADVERTISING
  • NOT IMPOSSIBLE: SUSANNAH MEADOWS ON MEDICINE, MINDSET AND MOTIVATION
  • EP. 18: HOW TO TALK TO YOURSELF: MARISA PEER ON RAPID TRANSFORMATION
  • SURVIVING ASSHOLES: ROBERT SUTTON ON OUTWITTING JERKS IN YOUR LIFE
  • HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY: TASHA EURICH ON SELF AWARENESS
  • EP. 15: ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD THINGS: CAROLINE MILLER
  • EP. 14: ON FAILURE PART 2, FAILING WELL: ASHLEY GOOD
  • EP 13: FAILURE PART 1 : FAIL FAST, FAIL OFTEN: RYAN BABINEAUX
  • EP. 12: HOW TO BOUNCE BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN: A TALK WITH JAMES ALTUCHER
  • EP.11: HAPPINESS AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE DIGITAL ERA: AMY BLANKSON
  • EP.10: AFTER CANCER: DR. WENDY HARPHAM, HAPPY IN A STORM
  • EP. 9: A PHILOSOPHY FOR HARD TIMES: MASSIMO PIGLIUCCI
  • Ep. 8: SUCCESS, FACTS & FICTIONS: ERIC BARKER
  • EP.7: RESILIENT GRIEVING: DR. LUCY HONE TALKS ABOUT LIVING WITH LOSS
  • EP. 6: WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU: A TALK WITH SCOTT CARNEY
  • EP. 5: FEELING GOOD, OVERCOMING DEPRESSION AND DISTORTED THINKING: DR DAVID BURNS
  • EP. 4: HOW GOING BLIND HELPED ME SEE: ISAAC LIDSKY
  • EP.3: WHY THINGS BOUNCE BACK: ANDREW ZOLLI
  • EP. 2: ON CREATING AN UNDEFEATABLE MIND: DR. ALEX LICKERMAN
  • EP. 1: NO ARMS, NO LEGS, NO EXCUSES: KYLE MAYNARD

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