Bored and Brilliant summary

Take a walk down the street, or spend a few minutes on the subway or a bus, and you’ll see them: hordes of people with their heads lowered, each gazing at the screen of some device. Sure, smartphones and tablets are great – you’re probably using one right now! – but they’re also altering the way we think and act.

For one, we no longer read or process information as we used to.

What do drug dealers and people in the tech sector have in common? No, the answer isn’t, “Too much money.” It’s that they both call their customers “users.”

This is no coincidence. Many of today’s devices and platforms are as addictive as any drug – and companies want it that way, for our attention is their most valuable asset.

You’ve probably seen “no laptops” signs in cafes by now. There is, in fact, a fast-spreading no-tech trend, with people organizing technology-free retreats and some live music acts even forbidding the use of phones.

But what good can pocketing your phone really do?

Most of us have done it. We install a game on our phone, thinking it might be a fun, occasional pastime, but before we know it, we’re totally hooked, playing whenever there’s a free minute. Whether it’s Candy Crush, Clash of Clans or Two Dots, these games are often regarded as a waste of time.

But that’s an oversimplification. Depending on how we play them, mobile games can actually be beneficial.

Kids like excitement. And there’s a lot of excitement available these days, from mobile games to flashy ads to YouTube videos. But the drawbacks of nonstop excitement and stimulation are myriad.

Modern-day technology has such a powerful effect on childhood development that many tech giants don’t let their kids use any devices at all. Steve Jobs, for example, wouldn’t let his kids use an iPad.

So how can you set a good example for others and form better technology habits?

Why not start by taking on the Bored and Brilliant challenge? It’s a weeklong program that encourages better technology-usage habits, with a new mini challenge for each day of the week. Here’s what the first four days look like:

Now that you’ve taken steps toward breaking your unhealthy digital habits, it’s time to form some new, positive ones. Once you’ve established these habits, you’ll be ready to tap into all your hidden reservoirs of creativity.

It’s day five, which means it’s time for you to take a fakeation – that is, to designate a window of time during which you’ll be completely unplugged from all digital devices and distractions. You should use this time either to focus on a project you’ve been meaning to complete or simply to enjoy a bit of notification-free peace and quiet.