Rewiring our Minds in the Digital Era

A few months ago, I joined a NextUp webinar with Dr. Carl D. Marci, neuroscientist and author of Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age. I expected to hear the usual reminders about screen time. What I didn’t expect was how much it made me notice my own habits.

So much so, that somewhere in the middle of the webinar, I realized I was half-listening and half-scrolling. Not because I needed to, just out of habit.

Dr. Marci talked about how our brains are wired for human connection. Real connection. The kind with eye contact, tone, and presence. And how easy it is, without realizing it, to replace those moments with screens. We stay busy and connected, but often feel more distracted or drained.

One idea that stuck with me was how often we use our phones to fill space. A quick scroll while waiting. A distraction when things feel uncomfortable. Over time, that habit can make it harder to focus deeply or be fully present with the people around us.

None of this was framed as “technology is bad.” It felt more like a gentle invitation to notice what’s happening and decide what we actually want more of.

Try This This Week

Before unlocking your phone, ask yourself if there’s actually something you need to do, or if you’re just filling space.

No judgment. Sometimes filling space is exactly what we need. But sometimes it’s just habit. It’s not about stopping. It’s just about noticing. Because sometimes the smallest pauses make the biggest difference.

At Springbach, we talk a lot about being intentional. This felt like a small, very real example of that.