Am I Normal?habits
I hold my breath while doing something difficult or frustrating, without noticing
Screen apnoea — the tendency to hold breath or breathe shallowly during focused tasks — was identified by former Apple executive Linda Stone, who noticed it during email and computer use. Breath-holding activates the sympathetic nervous system, creating a mild stress state that can paradoxically help with short bursts of focus.
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Related fact
Email apnoea affects an estimated 80% of people who work at computers — leading to chronically elevated cortisol levels in office workers who spend hours in this unconscious state.
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Today's Moral Dilemma
If being reminded to breathe every 90 seconds would significantly reduce your stress over a decade, but required a constant mild interruption to your focus, would you accept the trade?
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