Cognitive-control improvements

A few hacks will reduce interference while driving.

Cognitive-control improvements can also be achieved by modifying our behavior.

However, there’s no need to do a full-scale “digital detox” and delete Facebook or Twitter, or even cut yourself off from the internet altogether unless you feel you’re addicted.

Just a little less should do it. The trick is to depress interference by increasing metacognition while decreasing boredom, anxiety and access to technology. That’s to say, the four factors we looked at earlier.

The most noticeable effects occur when we look at the impact of reducing interference for car drivers.

It’s possible to increase metacognition if you familiarize yourself with the well-documented research which demonstrates the danger of texting and driving simultaneously. This awareness will discourage you from doing it yourself.

For instance, a study that might help you increase your metacognition was published by the US National Safety Council. This found that using mobile phones while driving caused 23 percent of all car crashes nationwide. That also explains why most states have banned the practice.

You might begin by reducing access to technology. Sure, you could lock your phone in the trunk, but there are also plenty of apps like DriveOFF and DriveMode that will block incoming texts, emails and phone calls while you drive.

If you start getting bored while driving, there’s no need to reach for your phone. Chat with your passengers, fire up an audiobook, podcast or some music.

According to a recent study by David Strayer, a professor at the University of Utah, each of these activities is far less distracting for drivers than talking on the phone.

Finally, you can lower your anxiety by forewarning colleagues, friends and family of your regular commute time. That way they won’t call you, and you’ll have no reason to fear you’re missing a phone call or a text. Alternatively, an app like Live2Txt will reply automatically to people trying to get hold of you and let them know you’re driving and will get back to them shortly.

Now that we know how to deal with interference while driving, let’s look at doing the same while socializing.