A friend of mine claims that we experience more sickness and flu in winter, not because it’s cold outside, but because we spend more time inside sharing germs.
Her comment got me thinking about a recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency that states Americans spend over 90 percent of their time inside. Even exercise is now largely practiced indoors.
The harmful effects of indoor pollution are well documented. An average American household is contaminated by pollen, mold, residual household products, aerosol spray products, and room air fresheners.
Extreme cases of indoor pollution include asbestos, formaldehyde and lead, radon and carbon monoxide. An EPA indoor air study suggests “concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.”
How often do you air out your home in winter?
We’re not defined by the elements in the same way our ancestors were. We crank up the heat when it’s cold outside and plug in electric lights when it’s dark. With modern technology cushioning our existence, are we evolving to become an indoor species?
What’s even more concerning is what we are doing while we’re inside.
Screens of all shapes and sizes entertain all ages into the night. Our ancestors depended on each other for their livelihood and spent time together sharing stories by the fire; they knew each other deeply.
In “Paleolithic Legacy,” the author describes a group of hunter-gatherers who “are of necessity attuned to natural signs far more subtle than those that trigger the awareness of most people today. And because of the closeness and interdependence of life in small bands you would know the people with whom you lived almost as intimately as you know yourself.”
With the comforts of modern lifestyle and thrill of screen entertainment, how well do we know each other? How well do we know ourselves? In extreme examples, some may even feel they know their favorite sitcom character better than family members.
In her book, “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age,” clinical psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair states, “The digital world is here to stay, but what are families losing with technology’s gain?”
Scientists are in the early stages of gathering evidence on the effect of screen time on the developing brain and it is clearly not healthy for emotional intelligence and communication skills.
Violent games like Fortnite have taken roots in the cultural consciousness and now create the social environment for our youngsters. I thought “the floss” movement was cute until I learned it came from Fortnite.
When questioning this trend, I’ve heard parents claim that “at least my kid is socializing,” referring to kid-to-kid screen conversations about the game. Each kid in the comfort of their own home is commenting online on the on-screen obstacle course. I have never played computer games, so I am quite puzzled by the gaming craze… I just don’t get it!
Turns out gaming addiction is now a recognized mental health disorder according to the World Health Organization. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that kids ages 5 to 8 spend nearly three hours per day and children ages 8 to 10 spend an average of six hours per day with screen media. The older the kids, the more time they spend online.
I wonder how screen time and behaviors linked to technology will be encoded in the evolution of human DNA? How will this newly adapted behavioral trait affect human evolution? How will our indoor screen time activities sculpt our DNA?
Human beings used to live every day at the mercy of the elements. We’ve long defied natural selection in the classic Darwinian sense with technological advances shielding us from selection pressure.
It turns out spending time outside is linked to better moods and a better view on life. Cutting-edge studies claim that direct experiences in nature are essential for healthy emotional and physical development.
I’m thankful for my dogs and our daily walks to Inspiration Wharf. Standing at the water’s edge watching the tides feels grounding while liberating.
How much time do you spend in direct contact with nature?
Spending mindful time in the woods helps alleviate depression with several other health benefits. In Japan, a walk in the woods is celebrated with the formal term “forest bathing” (shinrin yoku). Forest bathing is scientifically documented as anti-inflammatory, improving immune function, decreasing the risk of heart attacks, protecting against obesity and diabetes, yielding better sleep and beneficial to moods.
Perhaps it’s not Attention-Deficit Disorder, but rather Nature-Deficit Disorder that is on the rise?
In “Last Child in the Woods,” Richard Louv writes about how to save our children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. He concludes, “The children and nature movement is fueled by this fundamental idea: the child in nature is an endangered species, and the health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable.”
