How Stolen Focus helped me understand my problem with attention, and make some crucial changes.
The book by Johann Hari with the tagline ‘Why you can’t pay attention’ caught my eye as soon as I saw it on the bookshelf at the bookstore, so I went home and bought it on audiobook.
Ironically, I listen mostly to audiobooks nowadays, as I rarely read books. Something I used to relish before the distraction of social media, now feels like a chore. I can only seem to enjoy reading books when I’m on holiday and relaxed enough, and that’s not nearly often enough.
Before the holidays at the end of last year, I was exhausted and burnt out, as were many of my peers and clients. Busyness and working too much had crept up on us yet again, but then I wasn’t doing the things that support my wellbeing. I was spending too much time on my devices right up until sleep time. It had gotten to the point where it wasn’t productive. I was scrolling for scrolling’s sake!
With my mind constantly stimulated, I was stuck in bad habit mode. My sleep was detrimentally affected, my anxiety increased and I was hardly exercising. I finished out the year feeling wretched, mentally and physically. And Stolen Focus was the wakeup call I needed!
This audiobook came at the perfect time and really spoke to me (pardon the pun ��). Johann Hari had me hooked from the get-go, with his fantastic storytelling and then what kept me gripped all the way through was his impressive research with an extensive list of interviews with experts on this profoundly important topic. To hear Professor Joel Nigg’s concerns, one of the leading experts on children’s attention problems; We are developing a new epidemic, ‘an attentional pathogenic culture’ where sustained and deep focus is extremely hard for all of us.’
Stolen Focus highlighted not only is this leading to individual problems, but there are massive implications socially and environmentally as well. Our attention is being hijacked by mechanisms and algorithms, and the minds and leaders behind these systems are driven by profit over people and over humanity. If we don’t stop this and change our habits, we will be asleep at the wheel as AI becomes more evolved and sophisticated.
Stolen Focus is a book that delivers solutions on how we can overcome the detrimental effects of having our focus stolen from us and experience the benefits of being able to have deep focus that makes living so much more fulfilling, which is why I’m recommending it as a must read.
I’m happier and healthier since listening to Stolen Focus and have made some positive changes
including:
✅ Changed my work schedule to stop overworking
✅ Getting back to healthier habits including regular exercise, eating well, meditation and hobbies like tennis and playing guitar
✅ Prioritising quality time with people (in person where possible)
✅ And I’m even back to writing articles again ��
#bookreview #bookrecommendation #mindset #wellbeing #healthyhabits #resilience
