How Smartphones Sabotage Your Brain's Ability to Focus | WSJ
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- Опубліковано 19 тра 2019
- 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
*watches video*
“Wow this is horrifying”
*continues scrolling subscriptions feed*
☝️ This is horrifying.
Reads the comment.
"Feels"
*Continues scrolling comments section.*
While listening to video, I scroll down comment section and also check youtube homepage on another tab....
also I paused this video 2 times, Oh God, I can't focus to watch this video on 1 sit through...
"Insulin was invented at the University of Toronto, Canada, from 1921"
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help me!
Hello World! !
I want to eradicate diabetes type 1 from the world
I want to help eliminate pain from people around the world with diabetes
please donate your money develop the Cure for Diabetes.
The complete cure of diabetes is a dream for humanity of 100 years!
please invest and Donate for diabetes cure New Technology
And Talk about diabetes with family
(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ＼(^o^)／（＾w＾）ノシ
"Insulin was invented at the University of Toronto, Canada, from 1921"
Please support ! Please Donate！
help me!
Hello World! !
I want to eradicate diabetes type 1 from the world
I want to help eliminate pain from people around the world with diabetes
please donate your money develop the Cure for Diabetes.
The complete cure of diabetes is a dream for humanity of 100 years!
please invest and Donate for diabetes cure New Technology
And Talk about diabetes with family
(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ＼(^o^)／（＾w＾）ノシ
I can't even focus on what you're saying. Not kidding.
Yeah I watched it on 2x
@@milan4935 👌
Yeah, I'm only reading comments. They are more funny than the video
@Arrocho Salarial Yup, but it has its severe demerits. Cuz it's very very addictive and time shaving.
But It's very very imp in Politics or History related videos as the comments tell you whether or not the news is a propaganda or misleading.
"Insulin was invented at the University of Toronto, Canada, from 1921"
Please support ! Please Donate！
help me!
Hello World! !
I want to eradicate diabetes type 1 from the world
I want to help eliminate pain from people around the world with diabetes
please donate your money develop the Cure for Diabetes.
The complete cure of diabetes is a dream for humanity of 100 years!
please invest and Donate for diabetes cure New Technology
And Talk about diabetes with family
(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ＼(^o^)／（＾w＾）ノシ
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...
I have to say I agree with you. We were once hit by a strong typhoon so signal, electricity were goners. This basically meant we couldn't rlly use our phones to the full extent and let me tell you how much I've realized and noticed how life was so much more fulfilling. Every moment was more sincere and genuine without my phone. And just like you said, I slept better! Had like a full 8 hours and sleep but since the electricity and signal came back, my sleep got worse and my productivity levels ARE LOW.
guess i really have to practice not depending on my phone a lot.
My phone got stolen (at gun point) and I waited 2 weeks to get one. I was not phased. I have a new phone and I make sure I am not touching that phone. Critical notifications come to a smartwatch and the phone far from me.
The important thing is to regulate how much we use our devices.
I can't even concentrate, am watching while reading the comments 🤔
Same reading comments while the video was playing lol 😂
"when everything is easy, we become stupid"
Just like strength, when everything is lighter, we become weaker or when everything is safe, we become sensitive
pepsi light sounds really over simplistic to me and a lot of hand wringing over nothing.
It could also be the other way around. "Everything becomes easy when you are smart."
@Gery A I can't say I don't agree.
But if everything is easy we dont need to be smart.
I keep looking at my phone even if i don't get any notification 😂
its called instant gratification. You are addicted
I still can't get over how good OLED screens look
Turn off your notifications. Keep the most important ones like messages, messenger and email thats it. Log off from social media sites so you don't get every stupid notification that distracts you.
“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
Corollary... "Knowledge is infinite, ‘information’ is often just repeated... with variation, or verbatim." - me ;-)
But why 4 times ?
@Politically Incorrect Bender
The decision is yours mate
Zayn Umar did someone say my name..
@Politically Incorrect Bender
Yes 4 times
I got rid of Facebook and never signed up for twitter messenger etc and it changed my life.
Facebook is where productive minds go to die.
"Insulin was invented at the University of Toronto, Canada, from 1921"
Please support ! Please Donate！
help me!
Hello World! !
I want to eradicate diabetes type 1 from the world
I want to help eliminate pain from people around the world with diabetes
please donate your money develop the Cure for Diabetes.
The complete cure of diabetes is a dream for humanity of 100 years!
please invest and Donate for diabetes cure New Technology
And Talk about diabetes with family
(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ＼(^o^)／（＾w＾）ノシ
I kept messenger. Most common connection in my country.
That good friend
i have fb and messenger, but neeeever use them. and all my notifications for non essentials are off.
I'm most productive when my phone is on silent mode and there is no WI FI.
already tried, laying your phone in another room? read a study that said, your attention rises there to the maximum
"Insulin was invented at the University of Toronto, Canada, from 1921"
Please support ! Please Donate！
help me!
Hello World! !
I want to eradicate diabetes type 1 from the world
I want to help eliminate pain from people around the world with diabetes
please donate your money develop the Cure for Diabetes.
The complete cure of diabetes is a dream for humanity of 100 years!
please invest and Donate for diabetes cure New Technology
And Talk about diabetes with family
(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ(^o^)ノシ＼(^o^)／（＾w＾）ノシ
No way that’s my better half. I need my cyborgmind!
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
How is that going ?
I started watching this video and left before the first 2 minutes. Watched 6 more vids before I realized it
Help us
How are y'all 2 years later?
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.
Tbh if your work or main task isn’t engaging enough, you can get distracted by the squiggles that swim across your eyeball.
lostinthelookingglas true...especially if you have ADHD...
I legit kept the video open, started browsing netflix and when i now caught myself, i wrote this comment.
I couldnt even focus for half the video :(
Cool! But you know, I'm watching this with a smartphone :).
I'm a 5D being who doesn't need a smartphone to watch this video 👽
I turn off notifications 9 to 5 using iPhone Screen Time feature. Has helped me enormously to focus.
That "lake, reflection and drops" was such a beautiful example of our cognitive mind .
i feel like it was so unfitting. do not see any connection at all xD interesting how different views people can have on one thing
What can you do?
Switch back to Nokia 3310, oh yes
NOT use smartphone. i use a flipphone, last one was Nokia
I use a Motorola V190 from 2006. Works perfectly. For travel I have an iPhone 5S from 2013. Update the apps every 4 days and switch off. The battery is perfect. Eventually it wont upgrade like the earlier ones.Apple is lucky most are not like me.
Goh Kee Khai didn't know youtube is working on Nokia 3310. did you updated it?
Lmoa
Snake will distract though
This video probably saved me a lot of cognitive energy, thank you so much!!
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.
there has been people that have been trying to get through to you that there is nothing SMART about any of it, yet people get sucked in.
The thing about these vids is that they appear to be v promising in helping u but after watching it you are back to square one cos they dont actually help u that much
Batch read emails/text ONLY... there, now 5:17 not wasted.
If you take every piece of advice they mention, there's a fairly good chance that these videos are helpful.
...turn off the cell!...@ least 10 hours a day.....
Turn off notifications on social media apps or uninstall them, batch read emails, set do not disturb 10pm-7am, 9am-12pm, 3pm-6pm, 8pm-9pm, and use your brain instead of mindlessly watching UA-cam videos expecting them to spell out a solution for you.
*Age of information or more accurately age of distraction*
The lake metaphor is a good way to explain the phenomenon.
I literally searched for this video while on my 417th break of the day. 😭
This video needs more views. Very simple n effective explanation
True. Whenever I watch phone I forget to do my chores that my mother just told me to do.
i turn off ALL of my notifications, i only have msgs, email, and obv calls on. And even then, i always have my phone on silent mode. and if theres a person i text a lot, i mute them lol. it bothers me so much when my phone is constantly turning on to show me notifications.
Thanks!
Love that conversation
the solution of this problem when you add a new app don't allow the notification
No
Best tip imo
*_modern problems requieres modern solutions_*
Yep. Absolutely. Do it all the time.
Makes the most sense because if something is important enough you'd go to the app itself to get that information. A notification is just clutter, even if it's for an important thing.
... Over the past year, I have been keeping my phone on vibrate because just the sound of it going off is distracting and works my nerves. Over the past 2 weeks, I have been unable to send or receive text messages - The first week Was very frustrating... But by this second week I am really starting to enjoy the peace and tranquility I love not having to worry about responding or receiving anyones messages. - I am slowly working on being able to have complete thoughts to fruition, again, esp with my demanding family situation, which I am Constantly trying to distance myself from.
“When information is cheap, attention becomes expensive.” - J.G
“When information is cheap, attention becomes expensive.” - J.G
Structure and routines the best suggestions
I was just literally cursing myself for not being able to focus on Maths, then I went back to my phone, OPENING UA-cam AND GUESS WHAT DOES IT RECOMMEND ME THE VERY FIRST VIDEO?
"I'm like everyone else, a bit addicted to my emails" fam who
after checking his email, he should check his pager
it's so interesting that there are many people out there who cannot control themself using the phone more meaningful
Our brains learn to re-wire themselves with addictive habits - it’s far harder to break bad habits than get them in the first place..
Thanks for this! What's a good book that goes well with this video?
I was reading the comments while the video played....totally get it
It started as a need then entertainment then time pass and now it's addictive 😓
Love his metaphor on how attention is like a calm &reflective water surface! gets the point across so effectively.
I love her videos!great presentation, great on camera personality.
great topic
**watching on UA-cam** ***Goes back to check other notifs* argggh
Cal Newport has been spot on regarding this topic. Phone + social media destroys productivity & quality of life to boot.🧬👎🤳
the Shallows by nicholas carr. this book has everything you need to know
This is told through the lens of people who can't stop working when they clock out, which they should rectify immediately if they are able to. This problem persists for our whole society though
Informative.
I notice this. I went through a period of trying to limit internet use. I was able to read more. The internet creeps back in my life and it’s harder to read and feel relaxed.
I do agree on this. I am preparing for Exams and for some or the another reason I get distracted by Mobile .... So I started using after my study's and keep mobile at home only....
Great
If you come up with a question you wonder about and have a question about it the. It doesn’t really give you ability to think it makes your brain lazy you need to have questions have wonder without having literally every single answer to those questions this is why people who don’t have smartphones aren’t distracted and can be creative in thought not having the answers to everything is ok
I Very interistinng!
Nice.
👍 yep
Thankfully the technology allow you and me to put a app in temporary disable mode. This feature available in XOS launcher. Otherwise we can choose digital well being "timer" for apps.
Our attention spans seem to use the same hedonic neurochemistry as all motivation. Small attention span tasks provide a sense of micro-reward or micro-gratification for micro-accomplishment. All of our daily electronic notifications, micro-tasks and micro-gratifications mistrain our hedonic treadmill. There are many parallels to other addictions in this including the primary side effect is making real life seem too boring.
Computer's and Cell phones make us work more then what our brains can handle which could lead to high stress and thus shorter lives.
TRUTH!!
We fill some pleasure when we listen notification tune.
I love keeping my phone on silent.
Welcome to information age
I knew something was very wrong with the world when I saw people on bikes glued to their cell phone, on skateboards glued to their cell phone, driving a car and glued to their cell phone, in movie theaters and glued to their cell phone, a mother pushing her baby in a carriage and glued to her cell phone, a mother walking her little daughter home from school and glued to her cell phone, people walking in a park and glued to their cell phone, a father playing soccer with his daughter at the park and periodically checking his cell phone. My advice is PUT YOUR CELL PHONE DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU.
I have a new learn
You are so distracted that u are watching this video...😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
I lost my focus for 5 min 30 sec (+writing comment) from real world while watching this..arrrr why me..
Now Rajath Dixit that was funny! lol.have a great Monday!
Getting warned about smartphones while using a smartphone :))
It splits our natural pointed focus into wide screen and we have to focus on a large area as so many are operating simultaneously that will obviously not sharpen our brain. So, it makes us dull.
They also enable me to buy and sell very quickly. To put my ideas into practice immediately wherever I am.
i guess u r in online securities trading
Cool
I’m watching this video rather than studying for a final and I feel personally attacked 😂
And why there is no UA-cam icon in the thumbnail?
Kill all notifications, and build blocks of time for mail/social media. That’s pretty much it.. ✌️
Bring a BlackBerry! I use two phones, a Samsung Galaxy S10e and an Iphone 6S Plus as my primary and secondary device respectively.
People no longer recognize the palpable meaning of face to face life experience when they meet it. The
entrance into the cell phone human era has removed people's caring for and understanding of life.
I had to check my mail while watching this lol
ironically, as someone with adhd I use my smartphone to help focus.
Whoa when he was talking before the video of him started I thought it was kumail nanjiani talking!
0:19 Smartphone remotely opens toilet cubicle door.
I personally cant stop focusing on the dirtiest phone i've ever seen at 4:20
Your right but you we can't stop at list we can reduce same application which not good for our future like game & date social media for west time for things
I wish this would ran as an ad on Instagram. I k know way to many people who does this stuff
Got distracted from work by this. Thank you.
A very crucial knowledge..thank you
Does anyone else feel slightly anxious when they have been on their phone for too long ? Yesterday evening i was on my phone far too long, kept checking forums, messages etc etc, and i felt a bit anxious and spaced out after
Yup
❤❤
Knew that watching UA-cam all day was rotting my gdamn brain. I'm addicted tho.
Resisting looking at your phone also requires cognitive resources.
Downloading books and searching for edu videos are my lives biggest distraction. Alas!
Wow cool post thanks for sharing ❤
More then email and notification it's urge to watch you tube videos that's affects by focus. What to do about it ?
Do not disturb mode and mute is the way to go
I feel this problem is more prevalent in people associated with IT field.
I feel like this is the case for some people and not everyone.
Smartphones are the embodiment of how something that can do everything can be a bad thing
Yup.
Also, the internet does more bad than good.
Turdly will always get me crackin up.
My focus has been sabotaged after watching this video.
Turn the notifications off.
I will never do that though
what about task-switching and multi-tasking? How does our brains cope with these? Aren't our brains a lively evolving organ responding to and coping with changing times?
lol, I dont get notifications, but I look up for new stuff myself
Focussing is stressful