These days, every other person seems to have ADHD.
I am not a psychiatrist but ADHD is a real medical condition that requires proper therapy and treatment. It should not be casually bandied around, just as a stand-in for high degree of distractedness.
What if some diagnosed cases of ADHD are more of an outcome of distractedness in our environment? Or what if the ADHD is seriously aggravated by our devices?
A kid swiping through Instagram is hit with new stimulation every few seconds. And if they do this swiping for an hour or two every day, they are getting more stimulation in a day than what we once used to get in a month.
How will it not wreck their cognitive and attention capabilities?
Of course, we could deny it. Just the way some people deny climate change even now.
I think it is pretty evident that the constant drip of digital distractions is irreparably harming us, especially kids and young adults.
We can always wait for more research and data. But is it not better to act right away?
Every small action trains your mind — in a good way or a bad way.
So start pushing back on distractions. Eliminate notifications. Practice daily meditation. Create 30 minutes of focus-time. Keep your phone a few feet away while working.
Start somewhere. But start.
– Rajan