In this week’s episode of the Growth Guide podcast, we have the honor of having a conversation with Gloria Mark, Chancellor’s Professor Emerita of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. She studies the impact of digital media on people’s work and personal lives, examining multitasking, attention and stress. She has published over 200 articles in top journals and conferences and her research has been covered in popular media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more.
She joined us today to talk about her recent book, ‘Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity’, which presents the science of how our attention spans have diminished in the digital age, along with solutions for regaining focus and well-being.
Our conversation with Gloria revolves around the constraints presented by algorithms, social forces, and personal traits when making choices online. We dive into the impact of cutting off email for a week on productivity and stress levels, the unintended consequences of technology, the pros and cons of AI, and the challenge of maintaining focus in the midst of constant digital distractions.
Gloria's insights shed light on how we can navigate the digital landscape to prioritize well-being and maintain a positive store of mental resources. So grab your headphones and join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of technology, attention, and personal growth.
[06.10] Work from home – Starting the conversation, Gloria explains the impact that has on our attention when we are working from home.
[12.00] Paying attention – We talk about how you get distracted by unconscious actions and how to reduce them.
[20.10] Taking a break – Gloria shares her idea on the importance of connecting with nature while we are working and the positive impacts it has on our creativity.
[28.50] Shots – We talk about how short videos on social media cause us to have short attention spans.
[36.00] 40 seconds – We dive into the research findings about the 40-second length of attention we have on any screen before switching to something else.
[44.00] Artificial intelligence – Gloria talks about the lack of creativity when using artificial intelligence to create content.
[50.42] Free will – We talk about how a neurotic person can still extend their attention span even if they have more challenges than someone who's not neurotic.
[59.05] Electronic communication – The imbalance between the sender and the receiver in an electronic communication.
[01.04.47] Four properties – Gloria explains the four properties of human agency; intentionality, forethought, self-regulation, and self-reflection.
[01.17.21] Well-being – We end today’s conversation with Gloria’s suggestion of putting our well-being first rather than using technology to exhaustion.
Resources
Connect with Gloria
Website - gloriamark.com/
Newsletter - https://gloriamark.substack.com/
Twitter - twitter.com/GloriaMark_PhD
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/gloriamark/
Book by Gloria Mark
Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity
Book by Daniel Kahneman
Book by Robert H. Lustig
The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains