Thursday, August 10, 2023

Why our attention spans seem to be getting worse

Plus more health news |

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Why everyone's worried about their attention span—and how to improve yours
By Jamie Ducharme
Health Correspondent

When I’m writing an article, I sometimes find myself stopping mid-sentence to toggle over to my email, or opening Instagram without even really thinking about it. These moments freak me out. Is my attention span really so bad that I can’t finish writing a single sentence without pausing?

Lots of people have similar concerns these days, surveys suggest, and with good reason: Our distraction-filled modern environment is essentially designed to pull our attention toward the screens always within arm's reach. But there’s a silver lining, experts told me. With a little effort, you can improve your focus.

The first step, they said, is becoming aware of the various drains on your attention and making a conscious effort to block them out through changes in your environment, priorities, or working style. “It’s not only possible [to improve attention],” one researcher told me, “it’s probable—but it’s effortful.”

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What Else to Read
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Chronic Kidney Disease Is Poised to Become the Black Lung of Climate Change
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Chronic Kidney Disease could be the first climate-change related occupational disease.
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How the Netflix Drama Painkiller Uncovers the Origins of the Opioid Crisis
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The new drama series uncovers the origins of the opioid crisis.
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Why Rewatching Your Favorite TV Show Is Good for You
By Anna Goldfarb
Rewatching TV shows helps people unwind and provides a sense of comfort, research finds.
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The Best Way to Break Up With Someone, According to Experts
By Jamie Ducharme
Ending a relationship is difficult, even if you're the one doing the dumping. (Originally published in 2018.)
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ONE LAST READ
The unscrupulous doctor who is somehow still practicing

ProPublica this week has in-depth reporting on a Pennsylvania doctor who has been investigated at nearly every level of government—yet somehow still sees patients. Though it focuses on one physician, the story is really about gaping holes in the safety net that’s meant to protect U.S. patients.

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Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and edited by Angela Haupt.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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