It's a new year and many of us are committing to exercising and eating healthier.

But another crucial part of staying healthy is keeping on top of your doctor appointments.

That's where Zoc Doc comes in.

Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoch.com slash Hertz to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

That's Z-O-C-D-O-C.com slash H-E-R-T-Z.

Zocococ.com slash Hertz.

You're listening to 20,000 Hertz.

I'm Dallas Taylor.

Do me a favor and turn off your notifications for the next half hour.

Put your phone on silent, place it out of arm's reach, and whatever you do, don't give in to the temptation to check it for notifications.

How does that make you feel? Stressed? Disconnected?

In the past few decades, the world has become a noisier place,

full of devices of every sort vying for your attention,

attention that many of us seem all too ready to give.

But have you ever really wondered what affects all those alerts and alarms are having on you?

The sound of a text message arriving only lasts about a second, but has the ability to affect

your brain, your body, and your whole approach to life. And to find out why, we need to go way

back in time to the beginning of human society. I guess people have always used sound

to attract attention because that's what the auditory sense is for. That's Dr. Judy Edworthy,

a professor of applied psychology at the University of Plymouth sense is for. That's Dr. Judy Edworthy, a professor of applied psychology

at the University of Plymouth and the UK.

She's trying to understand

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