Havard Mela is the author of "Digital Discipline: Choosing Life in the Digital Age of Excess." In his early twenties, he struggled significantly with wasting time online, which impacted various aspects of his life. This led him to explore how excessive internet use affects the dopamine system, eventually inspiring him to write his book. Through his work, Havard aims to help others who face similar challenges by promoting a conscious and disciplined approach to digital consumption. His insights emphasize the importance of balancing internet use with real-life interactions to improve overall well-being. Havard's book offers practical advice and personal experiences to guide readers toward healthier digital habits.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- How digital overuse impacts mental health and productivity
- How social media provides frequent dopamine spikes, leading to addiction
- Why In-person interactions are important in the release oxytocin, fostering genuine connections
- Overuse of digital media impairs social skills and increases social anxiety
- Why conscious digital usage and discipline is important in promoting better well-being
- How to gradually reducing screen time and replacing it with meaningful activities
- Redefining self-identity, like adopting a digital minimalist mindset and how it aids positive changes
In this episode…
In this episode of the Cyber Business podcast, host Matthew Connor speaks with Havard Mela, author of "Digital Discipline: Choosing Life in the Digital Age of Excess." Havard shares his personal journey of overcoming excessive digital consumption and how it negatively impacted his life, leading him to write the book. They discuss the addictive nature of digital content, particularly social media, and its effect on dopamine levels, likening it to substance addiction. Havard emphasizes the importance of conscious digital usage, drawing a parallel to the discipline required in other areas like diet and exercise.
They explore how in-person interactions release oxytocin, fostering genuine social connections and happiness, unlike online interactions, which can feel empty and unfulfilling. Havard explains that excessive digital use, especially among younger generations, can impair social skills and increase social anxiety. To combat this, he advocates for gradual habit changes, such as setting specific times for device-free activities and removing non-essential notifications to reduce constant dopamine spikes.
This episode also touches on the significance of redefining self-identity to facilitate habit changes. Havard shares his experience of adopting a digital minimalist mindset, which helped him cut down on screen time and engage in more productive and fulfilling activities. This shift not only improved his social skills but also transformed him from an introvert to an extrovert. The episode concludes with practical advice on building self-control and the benefits of introspection and deep reflection to achieve meaningful lifestyle changes.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Matthew Connor on LinkedIn
- CyberLynx
- Digital Discipline: Choosing Life in the Digital Age of Excess by Havard Mela
Sponsor for this episode...
This episode is brought to you by CyberLynx.com
CyberL-Y-N-X.com.
CyberLynx is a complete technology solution provider to ensure your business has the most reliable and professional IT service.
The bottom line is we help protect you from cyber attacks, malware attacks, and the dreaded Dark Web.
Our professional support includes managed IT services, IT help desk services, cybersecurity services, data backup and recovery, and VoIP services. Our reputable and experienced team, quick response time, and hassle-free process ensures that clients are 100% satisfied.
To learn more, visit cyberlynx.com, email us at help@cyberlynx.com, or give us a call at 202-996-6600.
