Digital Enlightenment : A book about internet addiction and ways to be focused in a digitally distracted world

By Vidya Sagar

This book will make her reader know the bad effect of the internet and how one becomes addicted to the same. The main theme of this book is internet addiction and how one can use this tool in the most responsible way.
Getting addicted to the internet is very easy in today's world, but getting rid of this involves a process. After one completes reading this book, one will come to know about the process, and using that process; one can easily reorient their pleasure center.
This book is written in a very easy way.

Hope you will enjoy reading this book, and it will add some value to your life.

 

 

PART A: UNDERSTANDING

1. Internet Addiction

1.1 How internet addiction begins

1.2 Why distraction is dangerous in the very first place

1.3 Understanding online gaming addiction

2. Focus: In the age of digital distraction

2.1 Focus vs Satisfaction

2.2 Focus is not unlimited

2.3 Focus: A difficult task for humans

2.4 Story of two of my students

2.5 Digital fasting: In the era of digital distraction

2.6 Internet and FOMO

3. Internet addiction and cognitive impairment

3.1 The transformation from deep to shallow information processing

3.2 Multitasking: Increased distraction and reduced executive control

4. Internet addiction and mental disorders

4.1 Internet addiction and ADHD

4.2 Internet addiction and anxiety, stress, and depression

4.3 Structural and chemical changes as seen inside the brain of an internet addict

4.4 Changed reward circuitry in an addict

4.5 Increased dopamine increases stress

5. Internet addiction and sleep deprivation

5.1 Sleep deprivation and cardiovascular diseases

5.2 Sleep deprivation and weight gain

PART B: HOW TO OVERCOME INTERNET ADDICTION

6. Mechanism of the human reward cycle

6.1 Role of sensory organs

6.2 Reward cycle

7. Why are bad habits easier to form?

7.1 Reorientation of pleasure center / Resetting reward cycle

7.2 Power of desire or imagination

8. The process is more important than the result

8.1 Importance of a detailed to-do list

8.2 Prioritization is the key

9. Change is painful but inevitable

9.1 Find the reason to change

9.2 Resisting change is kin to perish

10. Result takes time

10.1 Talent and genetics are overhyped

10.2 Sacrificing Distractions

About the author

Acknowledgment

References

Index

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vidya Sagar
• Release date: Dec 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201047115

Vidya Sagar

VIDYA SAGAR IS AN ASPIRING BUREAUCRAT. Writing and reading are his two most passionate habits. He loves to write on contemporary topics, highlighting the problems that today's generations face. The primary motto of his writing is to make life simpler and easier for people around. With his vast knowledge and specialization in various fields, he tries to develop new concepts and findings, which tend to make life easier.

Book preview

DIGITAL

ENLIGHTENMENT

INTERNET

ADDICTION

---

A book about internet addiction

and

ways to be focused in a digitally distracted world

---

VIDYA SAGAR

Title: Digital Enlightenment: A book about internet addiction and ways to be focused in a digitally distracted world

Author: Vidya Sagar

22B Pusa road, Delhi, India

eISBN: 9789355265524

Copyright © 2021, Vidya Sagar

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by Indian copyright law.

Cover and typeset by Manjusha Jain

Publisher: Self Published

Printer details: Made in USA, Middletown,DE

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Disclaimer

Dedication

About the book

Introduction

PART A: UNDERSTANDING

1. Internet Addiction

1.1 How internet addiction begins

1.2 Why distraction is dangerous in the very first place

1.3 Understanding online gaming addiction

2. Focus: In the age of digital distraction

2.1 Focus vs Satisfaction

2.2 Focus is not unlimited

2.3 Focus: A difficult task for humans

2.4 Story of two of my students

2.5 Digital fasting: In the era of digital distraction

2.6 Internet and FOMO

3. Internet addiction and cognitive impairment

3.1 The transformation from deep to shallow information processing

3.2 Multitasking: Increased distraction and reduced executive control

4. Internet addiction and mental disorders

4.1 Internet addiction and ADHD

4.2 Internet addiction and anxiety, stress, and depression

4.3 Structural and chemical changes as seen inside the brain of an internet addict

4.4 Changed reward circuitry in an addict

4.5 Increased dopamine increases stress

5. Internet addiction and sleep deprivation

5.1 Sleep deprivation and cardiovascular diseases

5.2 Sleep deprivation and weight gain

PART B: HOW TO OVERCOME INTERNET ADDICTION

6. Mechanism of the human reward cycle

6.1 Role of sensory organs

6.2 Reward cycle

7. Why are bad habits easier to form?

7.1 Reorientation of pleasure center / Resetting reward cycle

7.2 Power of desire or imagination

8. The process is more important than the result

8.1 Importance of a detailed to-do list

8.2 Prioritization is the key

9. Change is painful but inevitable

9.1 Find the reason to change

9.2 Resisting change is kin to perish

10. Result takes time

10.1 Talent and genetics are overhyped

10.2 Sacrificing Distractions

About the author

Acknowledgment

References

Index

Disclaimer

The content of this book is for informational purposes only. The author makes no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience or achieve by following the advice and strategies contained in this book. You accept the risk that results will differ for each individual.

The author does not make any guarantee or other promise as to any results obtained from using the content of this book. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the publisher and the author disclaim all liability if any information, commentary, analysis, opinions, advice, or recommendations in this book prove to be inaccurate, incomplete, or unreliable or result in any damage or other losses.

To all mankind

About the book

My experiences outline that addiction in its initial formation phase acts as a source of escapism, but in the long run, one has to pay a lot in various domains of life as the cost to continue this addiction.

Everyone feels sad, lonely, and hopeless; during this period, digital addiction (for this book, it will denote internet addiction) tightens its grip over innocent and gullible users. Therefore, it is important to be digitally enlightened and know what this can do to our life, if not used rationally.

One always has to remember that satisfaction in our life depends on the level of control we exercise in different choices made in our lives. If the choices or actions one performs are compulsive or irrational, it will be a source of unhappiness and guilt.

One needs to understand the addictive attribute of the internet; then, only one can think to use this excellent tool for bettering their life.

A person makes a bad or good habit over a while. It takes time before any habit manifests result. When a habit tightens its grip over an individual, then the very act of an individual becomes automatic. It is a slow process and not noticeable in most scenarios.

When I started to see the internet as a double-edged sword and came to know its addictive attribute, I began to use it rationally, which gave me a sense of control over my life. I again became the person I used to be. I became confident, and this improved my overall concentration and happiness level.

I chose to write this book to share my journey as a focused, diligent and disciplined man, but after getting addicted to the internet, my life became topsy-turvy with unwanted swerve. I have well defined my journey from a very focused guy to a fickle-minded person. I tried to find the underlying reasons, and as a result, I have cited many research work at several places in this book. The way dissatisfaction pervaded my life was because of ignorance regarding my uncontrolled internet usage. I was using this evolutionary tool as a source of escapism. I think it is the need of the hour to dig deeper in this domain of addictive internet behavior until and unless one is not aware of the repercussions, one is prone to repeat a mistake.

Humans work on reason; if the underlying cause is not clear, then we tend to abandon it midway and embrace an easy route to escapism.

The great luminary Swami Vivekananda had said, The power of concentration is the only key to the treasure house of knowledge. In this digitally distracted world, we have lost the very essence of this power of concentration. We all know that these days' mobile phone apps that are designed to push tons of notifications try to get us hooked to these apps; in the initial phase, these distractions are not noticeable but eventually, over time, we start to feel demotivated and isolated when doing our normal day to day activity; our survival without a mobile becomes unthinkable.

All these happen because of the change in our habits and reorientation of our pleasure center. In this digital world, getting pleasure has become easier than ever before.

I hope the reader of this book will read and try to implement the required changes in their lives to reclaim control for a happy and prosperous life.

Introduction

In today's era of technological advancement , people's lives have eased to the extent that is beyond imagination. Though it was a gradual process, we as humans are reaping the benefits of the same. Today, we can send and receive any message or information in an almost instantaneous way. We humans never thought that accessing information or sending messages would be so easier.

Not just the way we access information or interact with other fellow humans has been revolutionized. The digital era has ushered in new advancements in many fields. The enormous speed of data transfer across various devices has made interaction among devices and people more effortless. It is projected that many more devices will be invented in the year to come and will be interconnected to make our lives easier and comfortable.

I was born in the mid-90s. I was fortunate enough to have a glimpse of the world, where most of the task was performed by humans. The kids in those years were not busy with their mobile phones, playing some offline or online games. During those years, the definition of a game was different from the one which exists today. Those foster years were crucial for understanding various aspects of life to me. The game during those years was primarily an outdoor one. In outdoor games or activities, not just our physical body had to be present, but our focus also needs to be there to have full involvement and enjoyment. 

The kids and people of those eras were mostly engaged in outdoor activities. The outdoor activities helped adults and children to grow stronger relations with other people around. The company of friends helped them to have many innovative ideas.

But in today's era, it seems everything has changed. One can find flocks of people lingering around showrooms and shops which sell those magical devices, so-called mobile phones, computers, and a host of IoT. In today's era, the shops that sell mobile phone and computer are more evident than the one who sells footballs, cricket balls, volleyballs Hockey sticks, cricket bats, etc., and many other outdoor sports items. It seems people's needs and tastes have changed over time.

This evolution is very drastic, and it has given humans very little time to figure out the differences between today's and earlier eras. When the change is very extreme, one needs to examine the minute changes to come to any conclusion; this book attempts to highlight changes brought by these revolutionary devices. Though these devices had many positive impacts on our lives, one will readily talk about the ills these devices had brought in disguise in the lives of numerous people around.

To tell you honestly, I had my first mobile phone in 2012. The year after 2012 had been very drastic in technological evolution, especially mobile phones and powerful computers, which are made not just for education, communication, or entertainment.

I was fortunate enough to have many good friends who were always ready to play outdoor games and be part of many outdoor activities in terms of entertainment. In the early 2000s, mobile phones were out of reach for many people, and it was primarily used for calls and text messages. But with every passing year, the mobile phone manufacturers made this device more sophisticated.

The manufacturers with their highly developed R&D are always busy making mobiles and computers more sophisticated and more integrated with human life. But one can rarely find any book or a document which talks about the ill or dire repercussions of prolonged usage of these devices in day-to-day life.

Few harmful effects most people talk about prolonged usage of mobile phones and computers are eye fatigue, headache, sleeplessness. But there are many ill and adverse effects being brought by these devices in our life. The psychological impact and decision-making are also there, which is largely ignored by the masses. 

If one peeps inside these domains, then the way these technologies are hacking our lives is very much new and