BZ Book Review 07: <Distracted Mind> by Adam Gazzaley
Key Takeaways
1. Information to us now is like food to our ancestors. We can easily get distracted by them. Our cognitive control seems to have evolved less than our executive functions. In other words, we’re collectively great at setting goals but far worse at seeing them through.
2. Four factors that keeps us ‘enjoy’ getting distracted.
Boredom: Boredom decreases when we switch information sources and tasks
Anxiety: Anxiety decreases when we change information feed. (FOMO)
Access to technology: it is much given in our daily life (smart phones)
Metacognition: metacognition is your awareness of what you are doing, If you are aware that you are switching tasks, you are less likely to be distracted.
3. Physical exercise and mental training can help improve your cognitive control
Physical exercise could help you focus and conduct deep work
Mental training can help increase your focus time span. Actively train your brain to focus
4. Some behavioral changes could help improve your cognitive control
In general we need to increase metacognition, and decrease boredom, anxiety and access to technology.
Meditation help you constantly be aware of what you are doing
5. Interesting data point:
As many as 125 of all smartphone owners use their phone in a shower, while 9% use them while having sex.
Simple presence of a phone in the room reduces mutual trust and understanding
