Modern Wisdom #584 - Dr Gloria Mark - How To Take Control Of Your Attention
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Feb 2, 2023 
Dr. Gloria Mark, Chancellor's Professor in Informatics at UC Irvine, dives into the chaotic world of attention in the digital age. She highlights alarming declines in attention spans due to constant media distractions and challenges the myth of multitasking. Exploring concepts like kinetic attention, she offers practical strategies for reclaiming focus and designing effective daily routines. The conversation also delves into the psychological impacts of technology and budding 'right to disconnect' laws, advocating for healthier work habits in a distracted world.
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Shrinking Attention Spans
- Attention spans have drastically decreased over the past two decades, from 150 seconds to 47 seconds.
- Half of all attention measurements are even shorter, less than 40 seconds.
Misconceptions About Attention
- People often blame external factors for distractions, but self-interruption is just as common.
- Attention is more nuanced than simply "focused" or "unfocused."
Social Nature and Short Attention
- Our social nature interacts with our digital world, shortening attention spans beyond just notifications.
- Even media like TV and film have shorter shot lengths now, averaging around four seconds.
