Indistractable

‘Letter to Menoeceus’, contained in Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Book X.

Herbert A. Simon wrote presciently, ‘the wealth of information means a dearth of something else … a poverty of attention’.

The untutored mind does not like to be alone with itself.’

the only way to handle distraction is by learning to handle discomfort.

We don’t need to check our email right this second; we don’t need to give in to some other distraction, no matter how much we feel we must.

Operating under constraints, Bogost says, is the key to creativity and fun.

Even when we think we’re seeking pleasure, we’re actually driven by the desire to free ourselves from the pain of wanting.

Researchers tell us attention and focus are the raw materials of human creativity and flourishing.

negative events are more salient and demand attention more powerfully than neutral or positive events’.