Neuroscience - Dr. Gloria Mark - Attention Span

How to Rewire Your Brain for Better Focus, Productivity, and Happiness

In our latest episode Dr. Greg Kelly sits down with Dr. Gloria Mark to delve into the complexities of human attention in the digital age. They discuss how never-ending notifications, multitasking demands, and mindless scrolling impacts cognitive function. The conversation offers a rare glimpse into the intricacies of attention, highlighting how our devices shape our ability to focus, stress levels, and overall well-being.

Central to the conversation are the types of attention we engage in daily—ranging from focused, effortful endeavors to simpler, rote activities, that Gloria argues replenish our minds. Her passionate research using living laboratories, where sensors track real-world device interactions and their physiological effects, paints a thought-provoking picture of the human brain's limits and needs. Knowing how our brain deals with distractions puts us in a better place to be intentional about where we direct our focus, boosting productivity and happiness. 

Key Takeaways:

• Attention is deeply complex, involving engagement levels and mental effort. Rote activities, while low in mental demand, play a crucial role in replenishing cognitive resources.
• Multitasking is a misnomer for what is actually attention switching; humans cannot focus on multiple effortful tasks simultaneously without a trade-off in performance.
• External cues and self-interruptions seem to perpetuate a cycle of distraction, leading to increased stress and cognitive load—a phenomenon that affects our innate attention spans.
• Employing strategies like batching email checks, prioritizing well-being, and embracing empty space or nature can significantly boost cognitive functioning and decrease stress.
• Intentional brain breaks and adequate rest, contrary to the push for continuous hard work, are essential for maintaining high-quality attention and preventing burnout.

We may have the illusion that we are doing more and that our human capacity has expanded when we shift our attention, or multitask, but actually we are doing less. - Gloria Mark, Ph.D.

Listen now to learn about the complex relationship between our digital habits and mental well-being.

To learn more, read our complementary article to the discussion: Brain Training: How to Rewire Your Brain for Better Focus, Productivity, and Happiness.

Related Links

Attention Span
Gloria Mark's substack
Gloria Mark's Website

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