I got into work mode the past couple years of my life and spent most time either working or speaking with people, then browsing my phone in the downtimes / before bed / first thing in the morning.
I hadn't read a book in a couple of years and it was scary the first time I tried again.
Literally could not read more than 1 - 1.5 pages without my mind wandering or feeling the pang to check the feed on my phone. Kind of horrifying to be honest.
Took me a couple weeks to get back in the groove and actually have some decent comprehension / retention. Personally, reading again was a great way to rebuild my attention span and just rewiring my brain in general. I had no idea how bad I had become.
> Personally, reading again was a great way to rebuild my attention span and just rewiring my brain in general. I had no idea how bad I had become.
I've gone through this same process. It was definitely frightening to realize how far I'd fallen from my grade-school bookworm days. I have to consciously fight against bad information-intake habits now. I actually wrote an ebook about it: https://www.amazon.com/How-Start-Reading-Again-Internet-eboo...
Not just smartphones, but the internet in general in my experience.
I'm not much of a smartphone user, I have the latest phone but I'm not a power-user at all. But I have the same issues talked about.
For me it's related to how I consume information, it's very non-linear. Wikipedia is probably the best example, you read a page, then come across affiliated topics and click those, you go down the information tree on that topic, then come back up to finish the original one. Such that reading about the history of say a particular city, you'll end up reading about other cities, about pagan religions, about warlords and their particular tactics, about irrigation systems, political theory etc etc. It's extremely non-linear.
And when I research a topic, I find I consume information similarly. When I think about say the environment, I tend to have many tiny questions popping up, and get them answered. This is akin to having a private teacher who has answers to all of a kids' questions, versus a school teacher who has got 60 minutes to cover standardised material in a linear fashion.
Books are extremely linear versus say wikipedia. You flip pages one by one, there's no skipping or switching subjects built in to the design, like say wikipedia or the internet more generally as a source of information. And my brain just can't handle having questions pop up, and wondering about things, and just having to ignore my curiosity to get the book finished. It takes away from the enjoyment for me. Even when I read fiction, and there's a character walking in Paris and looking at the 'famed xyz', with a brief description, I want to look at it! On the internet I'd immediately google it, in a book I just have to accept that I've got no clue what it looks and shut down my curiosity. At least if it exists in the real world, I have no issue with letting my imagination run wild in fiction.
I think and learn the same way, but this is very different behavior from what the article describes.
What you're describing is just a way of learning... Diving deep into the knowledge graph to understand related topics. You non-linearly learn many topics, but you're never really distracted from learning process.
That's a bit different than checking your cell phone for a second before dinner, seeing a twitter notification, responding to your friend, catching up on the past 40 minutes of posts, re-posting viral content, noticing another friend's weekend photos, following an interesting hash tag to other people's posts, seeing a reminder pop up for a game, playing the game, seeing an add for a new movie, watching the trailer, posting it on facebook, noticing a funny meme on your frontpage, following the meme to youtube, watching people play games, and then realizing dinner has been cold for a while.
The former is scattered learning. The latter is just spinning wheels, literally wasting time. It's dangerous and detrimental to society.
> "And when I research a topic, I find I consume information similarly. When I think about say the environment, I tend to have many tiny questions popping up, and get them answered. This is akin to having a private teacher who has answers to all of a kids' questions, versus a school teacher who has got 60 minutes to cover standardised material in a linear fashion."
This may or may not work for you, but I find it helps to write notes on paper whilst I read, especially non-fiction. That way, I can capture what I was curious about or found interesting whilst still continuing to read. If I then find myself stuck, I can then go back to the notes I made earlier for a starting point to dig into the subject further. Not sure if this would work for fiction, but maybe it'd help with letting go of needing to know and letting your imagination take over.
I have the same, though I learned to tone it down a notch when reading books. So I don't go off totally random tangents - but in places where my curiosity starts to burn me (or I get confused about something the book says and need to verify it), I do one of two things: if I have an Internet-connected device near me, I check it on the spot. If not, I bookmark the page (with dead-tree books I just stuff a random piece of paper in between the pages) and/or take a note on a device, to check it later.
One thing I learned is that you really get more from a book if you read it "linearly". Complex abstractions and mental models can't really be communicated in few bullet points; you have to let the author guide you through the process of constructing them.
I agree that there is no wrong or right in this context. I do however fear that if we are unable to concentrate on media for longer periods of time, the "depth" of the media will diminish. The wonderful thing a book has over a youtube clip is the depth of emotion it can describe.
You engage in a real emotional thought process, following along with the main character, hoping with them, fearing with them. Short media doesn't have that kind of engagement.
Also, creative thinking seems to rely on long thought chains in order to build complete things. Amongst others, self-interrupting every couple minutes is what made my creativity tank over the past years (and my ability to get lost in a book).
I feel the same way about movies, as well as TV shows and plays.
But I suspect film makers and the likes are already starting to realise that a lot of their audience feels like this. Why? Because in a lot of modern entertainment, you'll notice a general reluctance to continue with one 'theme' for more than a few minutes or so.
Note how many TV shows seem to cut from scene to scene a lot more quickly than they once did.
How many films seem to rely on too many jumpcuts and shaky camera angles and rapid fire dialogue.
How many newer video games seem like they're literally falling apart as you play, with the level quickly changing from one new mechanic to another every 30 seconds-1 minute.
That's not a bad thing (the level design in the likes of Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze or Rayman Legends is awesome), but there's definitely a feeling that as a result of lower attention spans, works have tried to make everything as dynamic and fast paced as possible.
"The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains" by Nicholas Carr might be of interest to you. And, well, to almost everyone here - your symptoms probably already appeared in one way or another to anyone who's reading this.
Personally, while I consider myself pretty disciplined, I feel deeply frustrated (almost angry at myself) whenever I'm actually trying to focus on something and feel the need to also do/see/check/read something else. Not exactly a facebook feed, but I've come to Hacker News while reading. I don't know what's the most commonly accepted definition of addiction, but this certainly feels like it.
I feel that media (from newspapers onwards) are doing a great harm by consuming more and more of the attention that people could have spent on each other. A big part of modern loneliness can be blamed on this. When you empathize with Harry Potter more strongly than with those near you, they feel the loss, even though they can't articulate it. Many escapist fantasies are yearning for a world where people pay more attention to each other, and everyone matters more.
Unfortunately it's not an individual problem ("stop complaining and make yourself worthy of attention"), but a collective one, similar to those game theory examples where selfish decision-making leads to the worst outcome for all. Creating more startups and more media is only going to make it worse.
I've toyed with some ideas of improving things on a small scale, like opening a bar where people can't use their phones. I wish I knew a more general solution, though.
> I feel that media (from newspapers onwards) are doing a great harm by consuming more and more of the attention that people could have spent on each other
Is that media's fault?
> Unfortunately it's not an individual problem ("stop complaining and make yourself worthy of attention"), but a collective one, similar to those game theory examples where selfish decision-making leads to the worst outcome for all. Creating more startups and more media is only going to make it worse
Are you certain that everyone feels a burning desire to be known at such scales?
> I've toyed with some ideas of improving things on a small scale, like opening a bar where people can't use their phones. I wish I knew a more general solution, though.
That sounds fun! No need to save the world. Make a small one for yourself and revel in it. If you gave free drinks in exchange for being able to put people on TV, like big brother bar, where people have to figure out how to communicate without phones, I'd watch that haha
I think there's reason to be optimistic. For example, social media and the internet have gave way to many new friendships and communities that simply wouldn't have been possible otherwise. While I understand and, too, struggle with the collective feeling of modern loneliness, I think ultimately there's more avenues than ever for people to bond over ideas.
However, you are right that even more increased demand for our headspace in exchange for moments of reflection and, as Louis CK[1] says it, "just being a person," are cause for concern.
"An overabundance of rabbits leads to a shortage of lettuce."..."a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention."
Herbert Simon talked about this when we were still sending men to the moon [1].
This should be the charge of HCI practitioners, but the needs of consumers have largely been ignored. AI might provide some relief (my phone is getting better at learning when not to disrupt me...but it has a long way to go), but mostly I think it is up to us to close, ignore or turn away. What I fear the most is that by choosing to do so leaves us appearing lazy and/or disengaged in important professional and personal situations.
My feelies (feelings i have that i will now pass along like they were facts) tell me that smart phones help people to avoid thinking about hard things.
http://imgur.com/gallery/AD84Z6V
They help in the above as a distraction.
Outside of doing my banking, my smart phone does not help. its small and expensive, brittle, distracting. It exposes a lot of information about me externally. And people expect me to be available because of it.
I switch to a feature phone a while back for simple robustness. Now when i want to know the weather I just look up.
The HCI practitioners learned all their tricks from the gambling industry. Poker machines and smart phones are really similar in the reward cycle that the trap you in.
> Herbert Simon talked about this when we were still sending men to the moon [1].
Cool, thanks for sharing. It's sobering to realize when people have already discussed things we face today
> mostly I think it is up to us to close, ignore or turn away.
Yeah. I feel like there are some successful people who say that stopping doing things is as important as doing things. Or, they say giving up control is useful. For every time that you are able to give up control, you can move comfortably to a new role within an organization. Giving attention to all the news can be seen as a form of control we're attempting to exert on the world, says me, another guilty person
> What I fear the most is that by choosing to do so leaves us appearing lazy and/or disengaged in important professional and personal situations.
That's fear of missing out talking. Tell him to shut it :)
I think it is more a fear of managing expectations than a fear of missing out. When instant communication is the norm, choosing not to instantly communicate being perceived as neglect, for example. While in reality, you simply need to block the distractions for a few hours to get work done.
> While in reality, you simply need to block the distractions for a few hours to get work done.
Oh, I see. I suppose that depends upon your relationship with coworkers/clients. My expectation is that people around me understand that anything less than a phone call or in-person request does not demand immediate attention. If they don't, that's their problem. I've never had someone fire me for letting an email go a few hours. They might ask about it, and then I would just reply I was focused on something else. Pretty understandable in my opinion, and if not, again that isn't my problem.
That said, I think being able to do context switches without losing work is an acquired skill. There are people who can do it in conversation; when interrupted, they can come back to the original where it left off. I don't know of many people who switch between code and people but I believe it's possible to get good at it.
0) Pick something you want to focus on. It could be your breath, a picture, an article you want to read, the sounds in your environment...
1) Set a timer for the period you want to focus on it for. In the beginning, I'd pick short times, like 2 minutes, or 5 minutes.
2) Try to remain focused on whatever you picked. You will inevitably fail.
3) Do not get angry at yourself! Your mind is like a puppy. It will want to wander, and you're simply going to notice it has wandered, and then pull your attention back. Be gentle with yourself, because just like a puppy, your mind will internalize abuse and snap back at you in the future in unexpected ways.
4) Repeat 3) until the timer rings.
5) Hurray! Repeat this exercise as many times as you want, for the rest of your life. Experiment with how long you like setting the timer.
Curious, do you have any research links on this sort of thing?
#3 is something I've been working on for handling "failure" in general. I think that acknowledging a lack of success as a system whose outputs only include much more than fail/succeed is how something can lead towards, well, failure.
I got introduced to mindfulness through "dialectical behaviour therapy"[0], in a hospital setting. The researcher who developed DBT initially was Marsha Linehan[1], who has many publications you can dig into.
Similarly, mindfulness was introduced into popular medical use for stress reduction, trauma, depression, pain relief, etc. by Jon Kabat-Zinn[2], who also has published articles.
I am sure the mindfulness article on Wikipedia also has useful links, and you could use sci-hub/google scholar/etc. to look up more research articles with the keyword "mindfulness".
Another thing I found it useful for: actually thinking things through. It's common for people to face a problem or a question, spend half a second considering it, and then decide that it's undoable / unsolvable / cannot be improved, etc. You'll ask them about it and they'll tell you, "yeah, I thought about it".
The trick is to ask yourself - have you spent, like five minutes, honest-to-God, to the clock, thinking about it? If the issue really matters to you, it's pretty much the least you can do - pull out the timer, set it to 5 minutes, and start thinking, not stopping until the timer hits zero. I was surprised just how much one could figure out in 5 minutes of focused thinking / self-brainstorming. I try to apply this method more and more often, especially when I get stuck on some choice, or don't know how to proceed from the point I'm in. But also sometimes for totally random ideas - 5 minutes is enough to think about how to start tackling them, and whether it's worth your time.
I've had the most luck with a pomodoro timer. You basically commit to working for 15-30 minutes, then you take a short break. Take the breaks: they make your focus periods better. Meditating for a few minutes during breaks helps me. Try to shift your mindset from always drinking from the dopamine fountain, and tell yourself that it's a reward when you browse for a little bit during a break. Just make sure you start working again when the break is over.
Take care of your body because your brain is part of your body.
1) Get yourself on a sleep schedule. Figure out if you need 7.5 hours, 8 hours, or 9 hours of sleep. Then, pick a time to go to sleep and a time to wake up and stick to it for both weekends and weekdays. You will have exceptions, but it should be the baseline to which you return. If you find you are consistently tired, see a doctor and check if you have thyroid problems or sleep apnea.
2) Excercise vigorously at least a little bit every day. This will help you get sleep.
3) Eat good food. Avoid too much simple sugars. If you don't already cook then either buy a slow cooker and the iOS/Android app Paprika. Or go to /r/mealprepsunday. Alternately, try Soylent as your baseline.
Also, try using the OSX app SelfControl or the windows app ColdTurkey to block websites like these.
I've tried apps but invariably I end up seeking alternatives to get around the blockers I set for myself. Internet is like alcohol for me so it's only fitting that I am the most productive in Internet free zones.
To get around SelfControl requires digging into the source code of the program. This requires at least as much focus+determination as doing the work you are supposed to be doing.
I have read that self-discipline is like a muscle that you can work out, and I believe it. Start off by making a real effort at truly working this muscle for a few minutes. Exercising self-discipline completely for 10 minutes is worth much more than only half exercising it for 60.
I have found a lot of use in timers. It's gimmicky, but putting a timer on my phone, and telling myself I will do only one thing until it goes off really works for me.
I just finished reading "Deep Work" by Cal Newport, and I thought it was very good. He's main points are that focus is in short supply these days, but if you can focus well it can really set you apart. Then he goes on to discussing strategies, like quitting social media. It's a very quick read, and very applicable to programmers (like me).
Stop using external factors as an excuse ("I'd love to focus more, but no one gave me good advice" / "I'll wait until I'm doing it right, according to strangers on the internet") and start working on it.
Recently came across http://timewellspent.io, which you might want to check out. Right now their advice focuses on smartphone use, but I think it's pretty good. There is a longer essay about it here: https://medium.com/swlh/distracted-in-2016-reboot-your-phone... The single best piece of advice in there is to turn off notifications from apps that aren't essential to your life. I only have notifications from messaging apps where I talk to my friends and haven't missed anything.
My two cents: set goals, work to accomplish them. "Focused attention" doesn't live in a vacuum, it only exists if there is something on which to be focused. Find that thing, pursue it. Keep track of what's distracting you, do your best to remove those distractions.
More pragmatically: get rid of social media if you haven't already. You don't have to go dead, just stop logging in every day. My own path was: delete the apps off my phone, stop logging in as often, stop caring about logging in as often, stop caring about the service as much.
> Remove distractions until all that's left is the work that needs to be done.
While this may be easier said than done, in my experience this is the only way I can focus for extended periods (i.e., a week) of time. Had to lock myself in a room to finish my dissertation.
Others in parallel comments have some great ideas, and I would suggest pursuing the ones that you find appealing and think will work. My one piece of advice: go buy a smartwatch. Doesn't have to be fancy (one of the inexpensive Garmin Vivo thingies would do the job), just has to have notifications. Put your phone on silent, and set the watch notifications for only those critical alerts such as phone calls and text messages. Whatever you do, don't put FB or Twitter on there as you'll be defeating the purpose. Put your phone in your pocket or bag and leave it there, knowing that if one of those "kid's school" messages that you're always using as an excuse the check your phone (and not put it on vibrate so as to annoy your cow-orkers) comes through, you'll know about it.
Now you're looking at your phone when you need to, not pulling it out to check something else and "oh, look a hit of dopamine! I mean, someone replied on Twitter!" and falling down the hole.
For example, I don't have Gmail alert the watch (nothing work-related, and rarely needs my immediate attention), rarely use Twitter and don't have a FB account, so those don't get on the watch. I do have the following go to the watch:
Dark Sky (rain alerts)
Calendar
Fidelity ("LC hit it's stop limit, so we sold it for you."; I could do w/o this one.)
Home cameras (e. g., Nest)
Text messages
Phone calls
Airline apps and Apple Wallet
Reminders
A bunch of crap I don't care about (e. g., app for Nissan Leaf) that have never, ever notified me, so I leave it on because lazy.
Of those on the "allowed" list, Calendar, msgs, reminders, and the rare phone call alert me the most, which is what I'm looking for: stuff I need to know now.
This will allow you to cease being inundated, so when you implement some of the mindfulness techniques described by others, you'll likely be in a better state of mind if only because the noise has abated a bit. IOW, it's easier to be mindful of reaching for your phone when you're not doing it in a Pavlovian manner.
Use your calendar to structure the whole day, including some fun things, some chores, things you want to practice, and required events. If you have the whole spectrum of activity bundled together it becomes easier to let go and follow the plan than to get distracted and lose your pace.
I agree with any responses that say disconnect from everything in order to gain focus. Best for me, in my experience, has been meditation in a chair in the morning for 20 minutes before touching any device. I found the book Mindfulness in Plain English to be a good guide. It's freely available online in ebook format
This is similar to an argument made in Cal Newport's book Deep Focus. He also goes on to argue that since we are living in an attention-deficit economy in a time when it is needed most, learning to dig out these distractions is becoming more invaluable. Great book if anyone is interested in becoming more focused and less distracted like this article suggests.
Loved the book, motivated me to cut out a lot of distractions in my daily work life, as well as take control in adjusting websites more to my needs (Writing small, custom tamper monkey javascript snippets to edit views of, for example, Facebook)
Just a small addendum, the book is called "Deep Work", not "Deep Focus"
> What kind of attention do we deserve from those around us, or owe to them in return?
The world is more interconnected now by things like trade, textual and verbal communication than it has been before.
If attention is meant to be paid to this form of information, rather than, say, the earth or the air, which also connects us, then yeah, I'm sure it feels like our attention spans are short.
Every day there's more text out there. So if you think books and text are what should be given attention, which I don't necessarily disagree with, then you need to work really hard to identify the stuff that is interesting to you.
Another option, when you feel this tension, is to sit back and relax, breath some air, and try to push out all the words that have flooded your brain
I do this in the morning before I look at my phone or computer. It's invigorating.
So true. I now use SelfControl free app to cut off all social media, news, videos throughout the day and in the evening. I also block all social, news and video content on my iPhone (it was very hard not to remember 4 digit password but it eventually faded from the memory). I started reading Financial Times and The Economist in the physical copy to get the news. I feel that my mind functions so much better than before. The difference in productivity is striking really.
I hadn't read a book in a couple of years and it was scary the first time I tried again.
Literally could not read more than 1 - 1.5 pages without my mind wandering or feeling the pang to check the feed on my phone. Kind of horrifying to be honest.
Took me a couple weeks to get back in the groove and actually have some decent comprehension / retention. Personally, reading again was a great way to rebuild my attention span and just rewiring my brain in general. I had no idea how bad I had become.