The Impact of Technology on Attention and Focus

Jun 8, 2024

The Impact of Technology on Attention and Focus

Introduction

  • Speaker: Viviane P.
  • Observer: Amanda Chu
  • Core Issue: Continuous exposure to screens and devices negatively affects attention spans and mental stimulation.

Personal Observation

  • Routine with Screens:
    • Wakes up and immediately uses phone for Instagram and other apps.
    • Uses iPad while cooking breakfast.
    • Moves to different screens for work, with constant notifications from a smartwatch.
    • Main Culprit: Phone causes the most time wastage.

The Experiment

  • Objective: Limit phone usage to 30 minutes per day for a month.
  • Short-Term Effects:
    • Took about a week to adjust to lower levels of stimulation.
    • Noticed Changes: Longer attention span, more ideas, and better future plans.

Deep Dive into Research

  • Focus of Study: Understanding what it takes to focus in a world filled with distractions.
  • Research Methods:
    • Reading research papers, creating a detailed, interconnected system of notes.
    • Conducting personal experiments.
    • Gathering 25,000 words of research notes.

Findings: Attention and Stimulation

  • Computer Work: On average, people switch focus every 40 seconds; with Slack, this reduces to 35 seconds.
  • Core Issue: It’s not mere distraction; the real problem is overstimulation of our brains.
    • Novelty Bias: Brain rewards new information with dopamine, leading to craving for distractions like social media.

Addressing Overstimulation

  • Experiment with Boredom:
    • Asked readers for the most boring activities and engaged in them for an hour each day for a month.
    • Examples of Boring Activities: Reading terms and conditions, waiting on hold, counting zeros in pi, watching a clock.
    • Observed Effects: Same as phone experiment—longer attention span, more ideas, and better planning.

Concept of Scatter Focus

  • J.R.R. Tolkien Quote: "Not all those who wander are lost."
  • Mind Wandering:
    • Benefits: Connects ideas, helps planning.
    • Focus Areas: Past (12%), Present (28%), Future (48%—"prospective bias").

Practical Tips to Encourage Mind Wandering

  • Finding Personal Activities: Identify activities that are simple and don’t need full attention (e.g., knitting, walking, taking showers, waiting in lines).
  • Daily Rituals: Disconnect from the internet from 8 pm to 8 am, weekly disconnection (technology Sabbath).

Broader Implications

  • Need for Space: Less about doing more, more about creating space for ideas.
  • Distraction vs. Overstimulation: Understanding that distraction is a symptom, while overstimulation is the root cause.

Two-Week Challenge

  • Make your mind less stimulated and observe changes in attention, ideas, and focus.
  • Utilize phone features to minimize time wastage.
  • Rediscover boredom and allow minds to wander.

Closing Thoughts

  • State of Attention: Determines the quality of life.
  • Less Stimulation: Leads to improved productivity, creativity, and overall better life.

Conclusion: Thank you for listening!