In this modern world, the pace of life has accelerated and most people have increased their workloads. There are a number of reasons for this development: We need to identify them and figure out what must be done. For one thing, the economic world has become more and more competitive and very few people believe that their jobs are safe; thus they feel the need to work harder. Moreover, most people can now do much of their work from anywhere, or at least keep connected to their workplace via email. In fact, when we’re busy with tasks, we get interrupted every 11 minutes on average. The constant and multiple connections we have with the world — professionally, socially, educationally, etc. — have contributed to the density and fast pace of life. Smartphones, tablets and laptops have added stress by continuously bringing new signals and information, forcing us to keep checking messages and posts for “fear of missing out,” the famous FOMO. Stress is indeed the new scourge, and the World Health Organization has predicted it will represent the health epidemic of the 21st century. Paradoxically, many people see a busy lifestyle as a positive thing. Indeed, many pride themselves on being super-busy: “Today I did not have time for lunch;” “I have not stopped working and did not get out of the building since 7am,” etc. Even our meals are often taken in a hurry, eaten while working, driving, talking on the phone or reading messages. Stress is indeed the new scourge, and the World Health Organization has predicted it will represent the health epidemic of the 21st century Nidhal Guessoum We can’t stop doing things, much less think for an extended moment. Indeed, when was the last time you sat alone doing nothing but thinking for, say, half an hour? We don’t think and thus do not understand what is happening in our lives and beyond. It will probably not come as a surprise to you to learn that medical research has shown that reducing the pace of life leads to various benefits: It reduces blood pressure, increases the capabilities of the immune system, and strengthens neuronal connections; it leads to weight reduction as we more easily realize when we have had enough food (check out the “slow food” movement worldwide); and it improves human health in general by reducing stress and the like. Actually, it is not just the pace of our lives that needs to be reduced, it is also the number of hours we work in a given day or week. Indeed, some studies have shown that for creative work (such as writing, designing, researching), the number of work hours should not exceed 20 per week. And so you will be pleased to know that many individuals are starting to change their lifestyle. Many office workers in America shut down their smartphones over the weekend. I myself always have my phone on “vibrate” and never let it ring, I never take it to the classroom or to a meeting room, and I do not answer calls after 8pm. Blake Snow, the author of the book “Log Off,” says people keep their cellphones on ringing mode because they don’t want to miss an “emergency” call they might receive. But Blake notes that most “emergencies” are not really emergencies. He also tells us that his family spends two full weeks a year (one in the spring and one in the fall) with no electronic devices. Kevin Kelly, the author of the excellent book “The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future,” goes on trips in Asia for weeks or months without carrying a computer. “I continue to keep the cornucopia of technology at arm’s length,” he writes, “so that I can more easily remember who I am.” A number of institutions are taking measures to reduce this stress-inducing, performance-lowering acceleration of work and life. Some organizations and companies, particularly in Europe, now prohibit sending emails after hours or during weekends. Many companies are creating “decompression” spaces and periods; for example, at Google’s headquarters, a fifth of working hours are given as free periods to let people’s minds rest and allow inspiration to flourish. Intel asks everyone to turn off their phones and emails every Tuesday afternoon and post “Do not disturb” signs on the doors, making that a time for thinking. Many in Silicon Valley observe an internet break every weekend, switching off most of their digital devices. It is instructive to note that the digital companies and workers who have led to the acceleration of our lives and to our digital addictions have not only noticed the epidemic and its effects, but taken steps to address it, at least for themselves. I know it is not easy to slow down, much less spend time just thinking. Mahatma Gandhi was quoted as saying: “This is going to be a very busy day. I won’t be able to meditate for an hour; I’ll have to meditate for two.” But you can train yourself in the art of “slow living” (a worldwide trend). Start by taking breaks during work hours; take walks at the end of the day, or better yet in the middle; drive your car a little slower; switch off your smartphone, or at least put it on silent or vibrate. And, most importantly, take time to think. Nidhal Guessoum is a professor at the American University of Sharjah, UAE. You can follow him on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/@NidhalGuessoum. Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News" point-of-view