Ep. 261: Control Your Time
Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Embrace Boredom to Counteract Shortened Attention Spans
The prevalence of addictive and highly engaging content delivered through phones has led to a decrease in people's attention spans, making it challenging for them to consume long-form content due to their accustomed nature of swiftly switching between content. However, this impact is less pronounced in movie viewership as moviegoers have been predominantly self-selected, with dedicated movie enthusiasts enduring the pandemic to watch films in theaters. With the resurgence of diverse movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer attracting broader audiences, it becomes evident that not all films cater to short attention spans, unlike superhero movies, which are designed for continuous engagement with rapid sequences and numerous references. Movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer offer depth, requiring sustained focus and contemplation instead of a constant stream of entertainment, highlighting the necessity to embrace boredom for mental stimulation and to avoid developing a Pavlovian response to seek immediate digital distractions when faced with boredom.
