Can Your Attention Span Handle This?

I wanted to write a concise blog with a simple message: we deserve our attention spans back. Despite the way modern life seems to wire our brains, I know there’s this thing called neuroplasticity, which means re-wiring is possible. The more we give our brains quick hits of dopamine and starve them of delayed gratification, the more we hand over control to external stimuli—our phones, other people, the news, and everything else competing for our attention.

We often talk about anxiety being the driver of our world these days, but don’t always stop to notice the daily contributors in our lives. What would it look like to intentionally train our brains to focus on one thing at a time? What would it look like to allow our nervous system just one thing to respond to this week? Can you eat one meal without a screen in front of you? How about putting your phone down while you’re driving (hello, hazardous habit)?

My favorite question: what would it look like to not be so accessible to everyone at all times? Maybe the older generations had this figured out… no phones at the table, no one can find you if you’re not at home, conversations without constant notifications buzzing in your pocket.

This week, I challenge you to consider one way you can build the muscle of “focus” back into your mental health workout regimen. I’d love to hear what you notice.