What does it mean to be “always on”. To have the entirety of human knowledge in your pocket, and to know what’s happening right this minute on the other side of the world… all the time?

What does it mean to be “always available”. To be contactable, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Never nowhere, always somewhere.

Of course this all has its benefits, right? But is it necessarily healthy?

This week I’m speaking with Christina Crook, author of the book The Joy of Missing Out: Finding Balance in a Wired World. She believes that being constantly connected to the 24-hour news cycle, having our relationships moderated by social media algorithms, being addicted to a constant flow of information that is curated by others who might not have our best interests at heart – and let’s not forget the dopamine hit that comes from getting another ‘like’ or another ‘follow’ – is not only bad for us, but is sapping the life out of our days, and replacing it with stress.

In this conversation we talk about why the need to be intentionally conscious about how we use technology, lest it use us, is vital if we are to build healthy lives and healthy relationships. And that getting offline is, in itself, a wellness practice.

If you want to find out more about Christina, her books, her speaking and her other work, head over to www.experiencejomo.com, and you should also check out her online store, where she has a range of non-digital products to help you get offline. That’s at www.jomogoods.com.