Jim Kwik in his book “Limitless,” talks about a “growing concern about their [ie students] overreliance on technology and they come to us [ie Kwik learning] to upgrade their brains to find relief from these “four horsemen” of our age: digital deluge, digital distraction, digital dementia, and digital deduction.”

As someone who regularly engages with and manages risk around technology, a father, and occasionally educates on cybersecurity matters for teenagers and parents, I am aligned with Kwik’s concerns. Kwik’s exploration of these subjects is thorough, supported by well-researched content, and incorporates references to multiple studies (see Figure 2 as an example for the Digital Deluge Horseman).

Why does this matter? The horsemen may be impacting your ability to be excellent. The horsemen could be negatively impacting your children and you need a strategy to mitigate this risk. I would apply the “Kwik starts” right now to fight these Digital Horsemen.

Here is quick summary of the Digital Horsemen and the antidotes to fight them.

1) Digital Deluge

There’s an overwhelming amount of information to handle, with insufficient time and minimal mental breaks. Additionally, the decreasing lifespan of information adds to the burden of information overload.

Antidote / “Kwik Start” – schedule 30 minutes of white space on your calendar. Time is technology free. Be creative and allow your mind to relax.

2) Digital Distraction

Constantly being connected and wired leads to challenges in maintaining connections with family and friends and staying focused. Our brains are naturally inclined to enjoy constant connectivity; each text, comment, or like on social media triggers a release of dopamine. The continuous multitasking exhausts our brains by rapidly depleting energy.

Antidote / “Kwik Start” – turn off all unnecessary and distracting notifications on your phone

3) Digital Dementia

Excessive reliance on digital technology is causing a decline in cognitive abilities, Our inclination to outsource a significant portion of our cognitive functions to smart devices exacerbates this issue.

Antidote / “Kwik Start” – memorize the phone number of someone you communicate with regularly

4) Digital Deduction

We have shifted from an era when individuals had to actively consider diverse perspectives, apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity to shape their own opinions. Presently, our deductive abilities are on the decline as we increasingly rely on technologies like generative AI to outsource and automate the process of deduction. Interestingly, while many people dislike having others impose their opinions on them, they seem to accept a similar outcome when turning to the internet for information. This paradox raises questions about our evolving relationship with information and technology.

Antidote / “Kwik Start” – Schedule time to work on a decision without the use of technology.