Okay so i’m probably safe in saying we have all been there, the deadline is getting close, that meeting is just about to start, or indeed that bit of homework is still sat on the bedside table. You are well aware that it needs completing—or in-fact even starting but you don’t. No, instead you spend the next hour “thinking” about starting it, all whilst you indulge in the little dopamine hits offered by social media.
Here’s the thing, can it really be helped?.. Im not overly convinced!
I have decided that, well providing that I can stay on task.., that I am going to explore the concepts behind “distractions” and the management of them in a modern world.
The fact that I have currently set this time out to be researching for an upcoming paper—yet i find myself uploading a video on the Stack may just highlight how even the more aware, are prone to allowing distractions to sneak in.
I mean its easy to see how susceptible we all are to this phenomena by simply looking at the description offered,
“a thing that prevents someone from concentrating on something else”
oxford languages
Like on the grand schemes of things I feel the key word here is “prevents”, as it implies a level of capture somewhat, and I personally I am of the position of belief that if we engage with “distractions” with enough willing, it in-turn becomes intentional, thus entering the realms of negative behaviour instead of attention capture—an action that requires a level of accountability.
What I am starting to realise is that its tricky to mitigate, and i’m not convinced that we are in complete control of what plays impact to our attention, leading me to re-think the utilisation to the term “Sorry, I paying attention”… You see its quite possible that I am offering my complete attention in these moments—just to something that my current exposed conditions have prioritised—even if this does sit within the sub-conscious.
Sorry what was I saying???
