Brain blowout is a new term to describe what technology may be doing to our heads.

It's a kind of cyber stress that results in overload.

Hi-tech devices like BlackBerrys and cell phones are supposed to help simplify lives and give brains a break.

But the real impact of all that technology is that we're now being overloaded with information and we may be actually losing our memory.

A British survey found a quarter of the people polled couldn't remember their own phone number.

"We have a harder time because of the constant bombardment of things we need to pay attention to," Jeff Davidson, a work-life balance expert, said.

Davidson said that bombardment from e-mails, instant messages and phone calls can slowly take over the day.

Gloria Dunnavan said her BlackBerry enabled her to become the ultimate multitasker.

"I was working 10, 12 hours a day, working on Saturdays and taking work home," Dunnavan said.

"We must rule our technology. It must not rule us," Davidson said.

Davidson's advice is to schedule pockets of technology free time starting the moment you wake up.

The same goes for the office -- before you log on or pick up the phone, take a moment to focus on the two or three things you need to get done.

"If you'll just keep those in mind as you proceed throughout the day you have a better chance of actually accomplishing them," Davidson said.

He said focus and concentration, not multitasking, are the keys to accomplishment.

Davidson said it's your own fault if you're on call 24-7 -- set limits.

Even talking on the phone and using the computer at the same time causes overload because both tap into the same area of the brain, he said.

Brain Blowout

Breathing Space

Stress