Johann Hari - Why You Can’t Pay Attention & Focus

Johann Hari - Why You Can’t Pay Attention & Focus.

Here are some illustrated podnotes to go with the Modern Wisdom Podcast - Johann Hari - Why You Can’t Pay Attention & Focus

Dr Benjamin Hardy is an organisational psychologist and an author.

Johann Hari is a writer & a journalist.

You probably struggle to focus on the task you're doing. You probably wish that you could pay attention for longer and that you were less easily distracted. Why is this such a common problem? Is this a byproduct of the modern era? Technology? Social Media? Johann has travelled the world trying to work out what is going on.

Spotlight Attention

Attend to immediate tasks by filtering what’s around you.

Starlight Attention

Named because when you’re lost in the desert you look to the stars to navigate.

Daylight Attention

Named because you only see clearly when it’s flooded in daylight. How you even know what your long-term goals are.

Fractured Attention

Our attention is fractured into slithers so small we can’t get anything done.

Getting Small Children To Sit Still

We are the first human society ever who thinks it’s possible or sensible to get small children to sit still for eight hours a day.

No Normal Brains?

There’s no way you can have a normal brain today.

The Itching Powder Meditation

It’s like trying to meditate while someone is pouring itching powder on you.

Concentrate On One Thing

Slow down & concentrate on one thing. That’s a radical message in today’s world.

Hailstormed By Distraction

How do you begin to know what’s wrong if you’re constantly being hailstormed by distraction?