• Log Off
  • Posts
  • The dangers of relying too much on your GPS

The dangers of relying too much on your GPS

Why you shouldn't let it dictate how you get around

Author

Geoff Sharpe
October 24, 2024

The dangers of relying too much on your GPS

My arrival in Atlin, British Columbia, over the summer was greeted by a startling realization — there was no internet. Situated just south of the Yukon, a territory in Northern Canada, it’s a small town about two and half hours from the capital, Whitehorse. 

And I had done no research about it before arriving. I couldn’t search for a campsite, hikes nearby or restaurants to try. I was flying blind. 

It’s a disconcerting feeling not having access to Google Maps. To say I (and millions of others) rely on it is an understatement. It’s the first thing I turn to in a new city. It’s the way I navigate in my hometown and when on vacation. It’s the tool I use to find new places to eat.

The idea of always-on-demand directions and visual awareness of a place instantaneously, no matter how foreign, has become so ingrained in our lives that it’s hard for people in my generation to imagine a world without it. ​​

There’s mounting evidence that our reliance on GPS is having unintended consequences on our brain. Studies have shown that relying on things like Google Maps encourages us to disengage from our surroundings. While there are no conclusive studies yet, they speculate that it erodes our ability to create mental maps.

If you don’t use a muscle, it atrophies, and the same thing could happen to the brain. The hippocampus in our brains help us navigate. A famous study looked at London cab drivers who had to remember addresses when driving passengers. Their brains had far larger than average hippocampi, leading to speculation that it was larger due to constant usage. 

While scientists aren’t certain, there is speculation that the decline in that gray matter of the hippocampus can lead to further brain issues, like Alzheimer’s disease, as we age. 

Another study looked at orienteering which is using a map and compass to navigate. I took a class on it, and let me tell you, it’s not an easy activity. Participants in the study who participated in orienteering had greater spatial memory and overall memory. 

There’s something both terrifying and exciting about not being able to use Google Maps to explore an area.

My trip to Atlin meant relying on signs, with distance and directions to each location. Sometimes I’d pass right by a spot, forgetting I could measure the distance with the odometer in my vehicle.

Without Google Maps, I couldn’t search a restaurant or coffee shop, to see how popular it was. I was flying blind each and every time I visited a store. There was something exciting about not knowing the star ratings of a place beforehand, or what food was popular.

Without guidance, spontaneity was my only choice. Instead of searching for things on Google Maps, I stopped by roadside attractions discovered a hidden beach area and did a long hike. It took me outside my comfort zone and forced me to be more present, aware of my surroundings, and try not to forget my campsite location.

I expected it to be harder, a challenge and bothersome. What I found instead was the exhilaration of the unknown, embracing the extra difficulty as an opportunity.

I never lived in a world with paper maps. I have no plans of ever using them. Google Maps will and should be part of your life. But it’s worth recognizing that sometimes it’s okay to put down the phone and explore.

ONE BIG TOOL

What’s your screen time?

How much of the rest of my life I’m poised to spend on my screen if I keep up my habits.

Ever wonder how much time you’ll spend glued to your screen in your lifetime? We created a screen time calculator that will tell you exactly how much.

It took some work and tinkering around, but it’s finally here.

Just enter your age and daily phone usage into our screen time calculator, and we’ll show you how many years you’ll spend in front of a screen. You’ll also get a breakdown by month and year—and see how much time you could save by cutting out just 1 hour of screen time each day.

TIPS & TRICKS

Focus on travel, not on your phone

I hinted at this in the intro, but when I travel, my face is glued to my phone. I’m more likely to visit a place if it appears on my map. When getting around in a new city, I always double and triple-check Google Maps.

But the best part about travelling, or even walking around in your home town, is the joy of discovering something new. By limiting yourself to what’s only on your phone, you’re missing out on so much more.

Here are a few tips I use to encourage more spontaneity and discovery that isn’t reliant on technology.

1. Wander around your hotel area

Once you’re settled in your hotel, the first thing you do is check your phone. Instead of jumping right into it, spend a few minutes wandering around the area, orientering yourself to the surroundings, identifying familiar landmarks. It’s both a great way to discover something new and to remember where you are (you never know when your phone may die)

2. Find a place to explore

Obviously you need your phone to get around in a new city. But one of the best parts of my trip to Japan earlier this year was finding a new neighbourhood, putting away my phone and just walking around. Rather than only checking for reviews on Google Maps, I stumbled into small shops, vintage clothing stores, coffee stands and a curry restaurant that I never would’ve found online.

3. Stay off your phone while on transportation

Check the people on your next bus trip. Everyone is usually on their phone. When you jump into a cab, you’re usually reaching for your phone.

Rather than putting your head down, look around you as the bus or cab goes through the city. Don’t check your maps to see where you are, but embrace the feeling of being a stranger, making a note of cool spots to check out later.

RESOURCE & RECOMMENDATIONS

Reply

or to participate.