Several Open Tabs on Your Computer is Bad for Your Mental Health

As I write this I have seven open tabs open in my browser. It's convenient, I can just click over to another tab to check a fact or confirm any information. For instance, one of the tabs I have open is for Aalto University and their article "One in four internet users are overwhelmed by the clutter in their browser."

You probably have a bevy of open tabs on your computer, and whether you or I feel it or not, the experts say that it's stressing us out.

Researchers at Aalto University in Finland found that one in four internet users is overwhelmed by the amount of clutter that sits at the top of their computer screens.

"We began exploring which challenges make users feel overwhelmed when browsing the internet. We also mapped the behaviors that cause the clutter and how users react to the stress," associate Professor Janne Lindqvist shared in the study. We're all guilty of leaving tabs open after we've used them, and according to the Professor, it's not good for your brain.

Lindqvist says, "People easily forget what they were looking for. Our concentration lapses when interesting things appear on screen, and then we start following links and collecting tabs." Yep, that's me.

We also learned that multitasking is at the root of the problem like when you're chatting in one tab, watching YouTube in another, and making a purchase on Amazon in a third tab.

Lindqvist also explained, "It's as though a kitchen table were being used as a dining table, a desk for older children's homework, and a play table for the youngest, all at the same time and without any tidying."

Making matters worse, the experts found, using tools to try to organize your tabs can make matters even worse. "These approaches are similar to someone not actually cleaning but just rearranging things in the same space, the problem doesn’t go away."

Instead, it is suggested that we make a conscious effort to limit how many tabs you have open.  I try to close the ones I have set as favorites because they're easy to open quickly. Just simply close them when you're done, or periodically go through the open tabs and close the ones you're not using.

Good luck with that:)

Nowadays, it seems like car manufactures and designers are putting more and more features in new cars. Sometimes, it's to make the car sleeker in appearance or give the car or give the driver more benefits with their vehicle. Many drivers can become intimidated or overwhelmed by the technology of cars. From cruise control and assisted parking to Bluetooth connection and more.

In a poll by SWNSDigital.com, they found the top new car features people struggle with the most. They gathered their data by polling 500 car owners with vehicles less than two years old. The results showed 20 pieces of technology in a car that "baffle modern car owners."

According to the poll, 68 percent of the "struggle to get to grips with everything." While 40 percent don’t believe they're using their car to its full potential. Also found in the research, is that it took about six months for 55 percent to discover their car came with certain features.

Dr Martha Newson, cognitive psychologist who facilitated the consumer study said they proved that over half of drivers are missing out on the full experience of their vehicle. "With any car purchase being one of life's bigger spends, drivers should take more time understanding the tech available at their fingertips, so they don't miss out on safer, more comfortable and more pleasurable experiences, every time they get in the car," said Newson.

The feature that most people feel that they aren't using happens to be cruise control.  It's been around for quite some time. Surprisingly, at the bottom of the list is blind-spot alert, massage seats, and 360-degree cameras. Some may find features like a heated steering wheel, remote engine start, and climate control easy.

You can view the full list here.

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