FranklinCovey On Leadership Dr. Gloria Mark: Find Focus, Fight Distraction
Nov 1, 2024
Dr. Gloria Mark, Chancellor's Professor of Informatics at UC Irvine and author of Attention Span, dives into the complexities of human attention in our tech-driven world. She discusses four attentional states—focused attention, rote attention, boredom, and frustration—and how balancing them can enhance productivity. Gloria debunks the myth of multitasking, highlighting the benefits of focused work. She also addresses modern attention deficits and offers practical strategies to reclaim focus, encouraging listeners to navigate distractions effectively.
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Device Use Mimics ADHD
- Many people behave as if they have ADHD due to constant device usage and information overload.
- If they avoid devices for a time, their attention spans would likely improve significantly.
Multitasking Is Attention Switching
- Multitasking actually means rapidly switching attention, not doing multiple mental tasks simultaneously.
- Humans can only multitask effectively if one task is automatic and requires minimal mental effort.
Four Attentional States
- Attention is not just focused or unfocused; it has nuanced states based on engagement and challenge levels.
- Balancing focus, rote attention, boredom, and frustration replenishes mental resources for productivity.
