The overall result is that it has become much more difficult for people to commit to anyparticular choice, and much easier for them to get distracted and abandon whatever they are busywith. The combination of distractability, lack of commitment, and procrastination (J. Heath &Anderson, 2010) results in poorly focused, inefficient, unreliable, and stressful work. Theseindividual effects are magnified at the social level: when several people suffering from such lack ofdedication collaborate on a common project, the result can only be poorly coordination, since noone knows exactly what to expect from the others. Thus, we come to the conclusion that while ICTundoubtedly has increased the mechanical productivity of work, it may well have decreased ourpsychological and social productivity, together with our overall level of involvement, satisfactionand well-being.

There is even significant evidence that expressing our thoughts inwriting can lead to benefits for our health and well-being. 11 One ofthe most cited psychology papers of the 1990s found that“translating emotional events into words leads to profound social,psychological, and neural changes.”

Why, though, do we not romanticize our preservation? The same matter of chance, of the fleeting nature of fate exists on the other side of the coin. What would have happened if we were better rested, if our energy was better preserved, if we managed our time and said what we really mean? Rarely do we approach whether we get eight hours of sleep with the same guilt as we do whether or not we attended a party, even when, according to sleep expert Matthew Walker, sleep deprivation prevents the brain from remembering information, creating new memories, and sustaining emotional well-being.