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It's getting harder to focus every day

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Re: It's getting harder to focus every day

#71

Post by Melonai »

6031769 wrote: post #50
roncesvalles wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember when cable TV used to be "addictive". Now I can't watch even 10 minutes of it without getting bored and pulling out my phone. Also something I learned recently: checking your phone at the movies is no longer the faux pas that it used to be. There's definitely some hedonic treadmill type thing going on with attention and stimuli.

Using your phone in a cinema was, is and ever will be a massive faux pas. I have no idea at all why you think it might be otherwise.

Think the difference is between "using your phone", meaning calling someone and audibly talking to someone, thus disrupting the movie for others, and "checking your phone", which is just looking at it, though inaudibly, though there might be some amount of light pollution depending on the screen brightness. First one has and will continue to be taboo, second one however, in my experience, used to be viewed with distaste, but is pretty common nowadays.

Re: It's getting harder to focus every day

#73

Post by mistahenry »

I recently deleted social media from my phone. With nothing left, I found myself compulsively checking HN anytime I had a free moment.

That’s shifted now after a few weeks. I’m no longer filling those moments.

The wins are subtle but nice:

- when I watch a movie, I don’t feel the need to start scrolling

- I’m reading at night again. This is far more relaxing and gets me to bed at 9 - 10

- less doom / gloom

- consumption is more intentional. I consider what I am interested in then find, rather than be sucked down the algorithmic vortex of what’s proven to engage me

Re: It's getting harder to focus every day

#74

Post by imp0cat »

safety1st wrote: post #68
kuerbel wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure I have the willpower to follow your example but at least I managed to turn of notifications on my watch after reading your post.

Willpower's not the solution. When we isolated cocaine from the coca leaf for the first time, the world pretty much went insane. In those first years people were injecting it into their eyeballs and spines. The most popular beverage on earth in 2026 STILL contains extract of the coca leaf as a holdover from the days when it was laced with its namesake, Coke. People were smoking cocaine, ingesting cocaine, giving it t…

Not even a smartwatch? What's your opinion on fitness trackers (the passive ones, without display)?

Re: It's getting harder to focus every day

#75

Post by themythfable »

ssl-3 wrote: post #33
lardosaurusrex wrote: post #4

People often question me how I manage to focus for more than a few minutes and I'm always confused because back in the day I was constantly informed I didn't have any focus and needed to be treated (adhd). I'm not convinced attention spans themselves have changed; I think it has more to do with the fact that people's brains aren't defaulting to daydreaming anymore when bored. I think it's still an issue with people b…

There's only one important thing that I miss about smoking: A smoke break was an excuse that was tolerated by others, wherein I could go outside and just let my mind wander (daydream) with no particular goal for a short period of time. Daydreaming should be perfectly acceptable either way, but people seem to think it's weird (concerning, even) when someone spends a bit of time to stand (or sit) around while appearing…

RIP smoke breaks

Re: It's getting harder to focus every day

#76

Post by ssl-3 »

fireflash38 wrote: post #66
mysterydip wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they’re saying that you could say “I’m going for a smoke break” at work and it was at least tolerated. I don’t think you can say “I’m going for a walk” the same way.

Why not? Ive been doing it for years, when I worked in office. Get someone to go with you. Or walk to get food/coffee/whatever.

That doesn't sound so bad. I like chatting with people I know. I like coffee. Food is nice.

Except: My involvement in these activities doesn't leave much, if any, room for the kind of detachment that daydreaming requires.

Re: It's getting harder to focus every day

#79

Post by dm319 »

hgomersall wrote: post #43
ssl-3 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's only one important thing that I miss about smoking: A smoke break was an excuse that was tolerated by others, wherein I could go outside and just let my mind wander (daydream) with no particular goal for a short period of time. Daydreaming should be perfectly acceptable either way, but people seem to think it's weird (concerning, even) when someone spends a bit of time to stand (or sit) around while appearing…

You can get the same effect by going for a walk.

A cigarette to doing nothing, is like a dog to walking pointlessly.

Re: It's getting harder to focus every day

#80

Post by amon_spek »

mysterydip wrote: post #52
hgomersall wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can get the same effect by going for a walk.

I think they’re saying that you could say “I’m going for a smoke break” at work and it was at least tolerated. I don’t think you can say “I’m going for a walk” the same way.

We still use the same phrase today "Smoke break?" "Yep" though none of us smoke any more, and some never did.
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