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No one will be surprised to learn that texting is nearly universal among young adults with cell phones (so, um, all of them?). According to the data, 97 percent of cell phone users under 30 text every day. Oldsters are not far behind them: 92 percent of the 30 to 49 set text every day and 72 percent of the 50 to 64 age group do too.
有手機的年輕人發發短信早已屢見不鮮了。（呃，所有人都這樣？）數據統計顯示，在30歲以下年齡段，97%手機用戶每天發短信；年紀長點的也不甘落后：在30-49歲年齡段，有92%的人每天發短信；在50-64歲年齡段，72%的人也每天發短信。
And while texting can be a great way to stay in touch, to make seamless plans and to share the minor frustrations and comedies of daily life in almost real time, it sure has a downside. What do we lose when we settle for the plugged-in and tuned-out life? Read on to learn why it really might be time to put the phone down -- even if it's just for an hour or an afternoon or a day.
當然，發短信可以保持聯絡，敲定縝密計劃，即時分享日常生活的喜怒哀樂；可是，發短信也有弊端。我們在滿足于手機生活的同時究竟又失去了什么？請往下讀，了解為何應該放下手機——哪怕只是一個小時、一個下午或一天時間。
1. It'll help you sleep better tonight
使你今晚睡得更踏實
We all know that cell phone use during the wee hours can be disruptive to our sleep patterns, but it's also true that texting during the day could harm our ability to get a good night's sleep, according to a recent study in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture.
眾所周知，凌晨用手機會擾亂睡眠模式；其實，根據期刊《大眾傳媒文化心理學》的最新研究，白天發短信也會影響到晚上的睡眠質量。
In the study, researchers followed the stress levels, texting habits and sleep of first year college students. They found that regardless of stress levels, the more people texted during the day the poorer their sleep was.
在該項研究中，研究人員跟蹤調查了大一學生的壓力程度、發短信習慣以及睡眠狀況，結果表明，撇開壓力不談，人們白天發短信越頻繁，睡眠質量也越差。
2. Your divided attention could keep you from what's truly important
注意力分散，錯失真正重要的東西
We're not just talking about missing special moments -- although surely, texting during time spent with loved ones can prevent full engagement. We're talking about priorities.
這里要講的不是錯失特殊時刻——當然，和愛人在一起時發短信會妨礙約會。這里強調的是優先次序。
3. Your posture is suffering
姿勢不當，身體受累
Texting can actually harm your whole body. People get so focused on these devices that they end up holding their neck and upper back in abnormal positions for a long period of time; enough that other people coined the phrase ‘text neck,’ which is essentially referring to postural pain.
發短信其實對全身都有危害。人們專心發短信時，脖子和上背容易長久保持不當姿勢，因此出現了所謂的“短信脖”一詞，暗指因姿勢不當而引發的疼痛。
Want to counteract the effect of all this stooping and texting? Bring your phone to eye level while you use it or actually training for your endurance texting with back, neck and core strengthening exercises. Oh, and give your phone a rest!
想治好發短信時駝背哈腰造成的疼痛嗎？那就在使用時把手機放到視線齊平的位置，或端正脖子及后背的姿勢。還有，讓手機消停一會兒吧！
4. We can't believe we still have to say this, but it disrupts your driving
不得不再次強調：開車時發短信相當危險！
Hopefully you know by now that you can't text and drive (since it's the law and all), but an astounding 80 percent of college-aged drivers admit to engaging in this behavior, despite knowing how dangerous it can be.
希望你現在已經知道：法律規定，不可以邊開車邊發短信！盡管如此，仍有80%大學生年紀的人不顧個人安危，邊開車邊發短信。
You are 23 times more likely to crash if you're texting behind the wheel, according to a federal report. And cell phone use was associated with 18 percent of "distraction"-related deaths.
據美國一份聯邦報告顯示，開車時發短信，出車禍的幾率要高上23倍。而且，因“分神”而造成的死亡，18%是手機惹的禍。
5. It makes you a less responsible pedestrian
使你走路時磕磕碰碰
Even if you aren't driving, your texting could be a liability to the people around you. A study in the British Medical Journal found that one in three people are distracted by mobile devices while walking and that texting was the most distracting of all the mobile activities -- including listening to music and talking on the phone.
哪怕你沒在開車，發短信也會給身邊人造成不便。《英國醫學雜志》上一項研究發現，1/3的人走路時會因使用移動設備而分心，其中，發短信遠比聽歌或煲電話等更容易引起分心。
The researchers observed more than 1,000 pedestrians during rush hour in Seattle and recorded their phone habits and safety precautions as they crossed traffic junctions. They reported that texting pedestrians were almost four times more likely to ignore traffic lights, fail to look both ways at a cross and to cross outside of the demarcated crosswalk.
在西雅圖的高峰時段，研究人員觀察了近1000名行人，記錄下他們過馬路時的電話習慣和安全防范措施。結果表明，發短信的人無視紅綠燈的幾率高達4倍，而且這些人既不注意兩邊路況，也常常走到人行道外面去。
6. Your school or work performance will suffer
影響學習或工作
Your texting could be holding back your productivity at work or school. According to one study of college students, female first year students spend an average 12 hours texting and engaging in social media -- and extensive media use is associated with lower academic performance.
發短信可能會影響工作效率或學習成績。根據大學生的一項調查顯示，大一女生平均有12小時耗在短信和社交媒介上，而沉溺于社交媒體和較差的學業大有關聯。
But it isn't just college students who face texting distractions. A study conducted at the University of Michigan found that short interruptions at work -- even just the duration of reading or sending a text -- can increase the number of errors a worker makes during a single task, reported HealthDay.
而且，不僅大學生有“短信分心”現象，根據HealthDay的報道，密歇根大學的一項調查還發現，工作時的短暫干擾——哪怕只是查看或發送一條短信，也會增加工作出錯幾率。
7. It can prevent you from really enjoying the activities you cherish
妨礙你享受真正值得珍惜的活動
Google executive Bonita Stewart banishes her cell phone from her ballet class so that she can enjoy her dance practice unfettered by her to-do list.
谷歌高級主管博妮塔-斯圖爾特在上芭蕾課時絕對不用手機，只有這樣，她才能按照任務清單專心享受舞蹈訓練。
