Did the headline get your attention and get you to click through? Good!
Rebecca Jennings is a journalist known for her insightful and often culturally reflective writing. At New York Magazine, she covers topics ranging from internet culture and technology to lifestyle trends and social behavior, often exploring how digital life intersects with our emotional and cognitive well-being.
In a recent piece, Rebecca explored the modern crisis of attention, tracing its roots from smartphones back to earlier digital tools like email and PCs. She highlights how constant context-switching and digital distractions have eroded our ability to focus. So what can we do?
Some people are turning to analog activities, mindfulness practices, and community-based efforts like book clubs to reclaim their attention spans. Experts suggest that while tech tools can help in the short term, long-term improvement requires habit change, self-awareness, and intentional breaks. So here are some tips on how to up your attentional game:
- Engage in analog hobbies like pottery, knitting, or drawing to reduce screen dependence.
- Use digital tools wisely: enable DO NOT DISTURB mode, switch to grayscale, or install app blockers.
- Practice mindfulness or meditation regularly to strengthen focus and mental clarity.
- Take frequent, intentional breaks during work to prevent burnout and maintain productivity.
- Develop meta-awareness of your habits to catch and interrupt automatic distractions.
- Join focused communities (e.g., book clubs) to foster deeper engagement and accountability.
- Use distraction-free devices like e-ink tablets for reading and writing.