How Smartphones Sabotage Your Brain's Ability to Focus | WSJ

Our phones give us instant gratification. But there’s a cost: loss of attention and productivity. WSJ's Daniela Hernandez goes on a quest to understand the science of distractions and what you can do stay be more focused and productive. Photo/Illustration: Natalia V. Osipova/Drew Evans

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#WSJ #productivity #smartphone

[Marcus-ghbh]

*watches video*
“Wow this is horrifying”
*continues scrolling subscriptions feed*

[TheChaos]

I can't even focus on what you're saying. Not kidding.

[pepsilight]

"when everything is easy, we become stupid"

[kenada]

I can't even concentrate, am watching while reading the comments 🤔

[baruscream]

It is quite interesting how phones have changed the way we behave so fast. I was robbed one year ago while taking the bus to go home and I spent three months without a phone. At the beginning it felt horrible, you become addicted to it without noticing, I felt empty, sad, weird. Didn't expect to feel that way. Eventually, I felt I didn't need it anymore. Started sleeping earlier, became more productive. However, when I saved enough for another phone, I bought one and the bad habits returned. These devices have become an essential part of our lives, more than we would like to admit. It is overwhelming that they are actually necessary for work and communication...

[scenature.]

I keep looking at my phone even if i don't get any notification 😂

[TheSoitenly]

I'm most productive when my phone is on silent mode and there is no WI FI.

[zaynumar]

“When information is cheap, attention becomes expensive.” - J.G
“When information is cheap, attention becomes expensive.” - J.G
“When information is cheap, attention becomes expensive.” - J.G
“When information is cheap, attention becomes expensive.” - J.G

[txshah]

I got rid of Facebook and never signed up for twitter messenger etc and it changed my life.

[siddharthkhandelwal]

I try to reduce the need to get on my phone. Each time I unlock it, the small task turns into a super long app scrolling sessions.
using a diary as a day planner and a watch to check time has helped me quite a bit. Looking for more ways to reduce the need to get on my device :D

[calliedaly]

This is one of the best videos on this subject. I keep my phone on silent most of the day - and I am much happier.

[shizzlejwhizzle]

I started watching this video and left before the first 2 minutes. Watched 6 more vids before I realized it

[jackrimson]

Cool! But you know, I'm watching this with a smartphone :).

[josevillanueva]

This video probably saved me a lot of cognitive energy, thank you so much!!

[lostinthelookingglas]

Tbh if your work or main task isn’t engaging enough, you can get distracted by the squiggles that swim across your eyeball.

[TheKukun]

That "lake, reflection and drops" was such a beautiful example of our cognitive mind .

[vjeminem]

This video needs more views. Very simple n effective explanation

[KKGoh]

What can you do?
Switch back to Nokia 3310, oh yes

[Bitachon]

*Age of information or more accurately age of distraction*

[GorilieVR]

I dissabled 90% of my app notifications a little over a year ago following my 19 year old brother's suicide. It's greatly reduced stress to not have constant distractions. Additionally, most of the time my phone is set to silent and I have scheduled do not disturb times too. I've seen many people talk about being addicted to social media and this is a virtually instant cure. When there isn't a little red notification bubble on FB or IG etc. there's no impulse to tap it. I was surprised how quickly I stopped checking social media.