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Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

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Re: Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

#51

Post by throwmeaway32 »

anderspitman wrote: post #48
cosmie wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I realized you can't truly turn them off on FB messenger. You can only mute them for up to 24 hours. At least on iOS, you can go into the system settings, scroll down to the Messenger app, and untoggle "Allow Notifications". It's having to go around Messenger, and doesn't disprove your point at all. But I ran into the same realization you had, but couldn't easily stop using it completely as Messenger video calls ar…

Yeah I'm not sure if there's a way to do it on Android. Honestly I don't care. It's more about why the software was designed at this point. Notifications are a symptom.

One thing that helps me avoid notifications is turning my screen to greyscale, notifications are way less visually distracting then. Only problem is that WhatsApp 'read' ticks colour scheme means that in greyscale the sent and read colours are the same so can be a bit annoying.

Re: Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

#55

Post by sincerelysleepy »

I've been heavily working on this lately as well. Here are my best tips in order of importancy:

1) Get off your phone as much as possible. Disable all notifications if you can except text / call. Delete apps you don't need to aimlessly check out of boredom (Social media, Reddit, HN, etc).

2) Meditate in some form. For me, this is yoga and taking soothing baths in the morning before work. Clearing your head and getting away from technology for a bit. Allow your brain to breath and think without information being shoved in it's face.

3) Practice focusing on context switching instead of "multi tasking". Realize that as humans, we cannot actually multi task. Assuming you work at a computer all day, don't have streams up, a million tabs, emails, chat services, etc. You only need to have open what you NEED open and nothing else.

4) Exercise. I've found running in short 2 mi increments 3-4 times a week really provides me the energy I need to complete the above 3 items.

Cheers and good luck mate!

Re: Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

#56

Post by nukeop »

anderspitman wrote: post #29

I've been working on this lately as well. Not finished with the process but here's a few things I've tried: * Read part of a book before starting work. * No HN/reddit/etc until noon. * No Facebook until 6PM. * Disable almost all notifications. * Only check emails/texts once an hour at the top of the hour. * Use software that respects my desire for focus. The last one is currently the most interesting to me. When I wa…

How about "no facebook, period"?

Re: Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

#57

Post by nukeop »

mr_overalls wrote: post #20
andrei_says_ wrote: post #12

Attend a 10-day vipassana retreat. They are donation-based and all over the world. https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/locations/directory This will bring back + tremendously improve your attention span, in 10 days, guaranteed. Once you leave the retreat, you will encounter the same environment and habits which robbed you of it. Which you will need to address. Knowing that social media is being intentionally weaponized to e…

This is a bit like recommending a marathon to someone who is sedentary. Building a daily meditation habit of at least 20-30 minutes of sustained attention might be a good preliminary step.

Meditation is an inferior alternative to prayer

Re: Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

#58

Post by nukeop »

rossdavidh wrote: post #6

Meditation is, essentially, concentrating on one thing (e.g. one's breathing, a phrase) for an extended period. It's kind of like using a piece of gym equipment to exercise just one set of muscles, repeatedly. So, how does one increase attention span? Practice paying attention, in an environment with fewer distractions, and keep practicing until you become good at it again (don't expect that to happen quickly). Also,…

Meditation is essentially an attempt to fill a God-shaped hole in your life with a new-age-shaped brick

Re: Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

#59

Post by dukeflukem »

nukeop wrote: post #57
mr_overalls wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a bit like recommending a marathon to someone who is sedentary. Building a daily meditation habit of at least 20-30 minutes of sustained attention might be a good preliminary step.

Meditation is an inferior alternative to prayer

Such a bold statement. You have to explain why.

Re: Ask HN: I feel like I've destroyed my attention span. How do I get it back?

#60

Post by dukeflukem »

nukeop wrote: post #58
rossdavidh wrote: post #6

Meditation is, essentially, concentrating on one thing (e.g. one's breathing, a phrase) for an extended period. It's kind of like using a piece of gym equipment to exercise just one set of muscles, repeatedly. So, how does one increase attention span? Practice paying attention, in an environment with fewer distractions, and keep practicing until you become good at it again (don't expect that to happen quickly). Also,…

Meditation is essentially an attempt to fill a God-shaped hole in your life with a new-age-shaped brick

Your definitely pushing the religious agenda in this thread
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