It seems that people today that are ‘wired’ into devices and are accessible 24/7 are having a difficult time finding deep focus. The way that Hari describes his own attention deficit seems to be in line with the systemic issues that are taking place in ‘wired’ populations. We are more easily distracted and influenced. 

Even before reading this book, I have been diving into the research of our technology and its daily, nay – hourly, use. Using our tech non-stop is bad for our health. It’s that simple. Yet we continue to do it. I’m sitting here with my partner, Chris, and he is playing Call of Duty while I type this on my laptop while using noise canceling bluetooth headphones at 9 PM EST. For context, we’re in bed between 9:30 and 10 PM every night.

I’ve been looking into purchasing the Light Phone because I want to unplug. I purchased and downloaded an app that makes your smartphone less pleasing for your brain to interact with called “Minimalist Phone.” It makes your phone a lot simpler to use, and takes away the appeal of being able to instantly access everything. Everyday my brain has found a way to get around the app to find its way back to the dopamine dump that is social media.

I’ve been learning how to take care of myself, buying an amber reading light for when I want to read at nighttime, purchasing that app for my smartphone, even listening to podcasts that discuss these topics. But if this is a systemic issue, then there’s no escaping it, especially when the majority of the population will fall into the trap endlessly. 

Podcasts I’ve listened to:

1. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MMiEUcECIjvmrDxLShdIX?si=3f2b901868fa4ad9
2. https://open.spotify.com/episode/59xqVn9svhAQ1ivQELmVDk?si=4ac53f4d021746cd
3. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2CmFBdbf373qtzWsyOGnJg?si=267e16a9226d4a28
4. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Ww7JI80yLfAnOigcxOE2q?si=5566e46cab294b29
5. https://open.spotify.com/episode/4N41GSbgIhM9diL8j79WIE?si=23576fd756724935

Even still, if this really is a systemic issue that the majority of the US population is facing, perhaps even worldwide, shouldn’t we be trying to find solutions to this?

Hari found his own solution by spending three months in Provincetown, escaping his tech and the endless stream of information. Close to four weeks in, without realizing it he found the solution to the nation’s deficit in deep-thinking. By limiting distractions and the increase of information and becoming accustomed to the lack of tech and distractions.

Limiting screen time and distractions after you wake in the morning, throughout the day, and before bed Hari was able to finally get the rest his brain needed to reset to think clearly. Johann Hari found his circadian rhythym – and while I’m not saying that this is the absolute solution, it’s definitely a start.

Citations

Johann Hari. (2021a). Stolen focus : why you can’t pay attention–and how to think deeply again. Crown.