Distraction Redux
blogFor someone who extolls the virtue of mindfulness, I am shockingly, almost chronically distracted. The worst thing is, the more mental resources I have, the less I am able to concentrate on just one thing, as if to do so was a waste of my powers. By contrast, if my mind is dulled by a mild hangover, I am perfectly able to focus. It’s like Vonnegut’s handicapper general that Wringham talks about on the podcast.
Mindfulness is about taking a step back to say ‘okay, where am I? What am I doing? What should I really be doing now?’ And, rather than just react to the first thought that bubbles up from your unconscious, you consider all the options against your hierarchy of values.
Distraction feeds upon itself: the more you indulge in it, the more you need to indulge it. It is better to do nothing at all than to do something distracting.
All of which serves as a terrible introduction to the news that my friend and sometime mentor, Rhodri Marsden, has a book out today all about internet timewasting. I haven’t read it yet, but he can usually make the most unpromising magazine filler readable so I have quite high hopes. Amazon tells me my copy is on its way, so I may even post a review.