Page 27 - FS3 IN AUTUMN 2024

B Y L A RS M IL S T E N
• PH O T OS : S PR I N T E R • I L L U S TR ATI O N :
A N D R É S V A Q U E RO

THE CONNECTION OF
THE MUSCLES WITH THE
MIND AND HOW THE

INAPPROPRIATE USE
OF THE MOBILE PHONE
UNDESIGNS IT

In a world where we are constantly bombarded
with information, our ability to focus has
become a highly sought-after skill, precisely
because it has become so scarce.
According to studies conducted by Microsoft
on attention span, our ability to concentrate
on one thing has dropped from about 14
seconds to 7 seconds over the last 20-25 years.
This is now shorter than the attention span of
a goldfish, which is 9 seconds. It’s a sad and
alarming thought, especially considering the
complexity of some tasks we face daily. This isn’t
just trivia but a harsh reality that demands we
take a good, hard look at our habits and the
way we interact with our surroundings and each
other, and how it is impacting our declining
ability to focus.
Navigating through the day, where our
mobile phone has become an extension of
our arm, is akin to balancing on a knife’s edge
between productivity and procrastination.
We’ve all experienced it. You start on a task,
and before you know it, you’re deeply engaged
in your phone, scrolling and swiping aimlessly. It’s
as if the focus switch has been turned off and the
procrastination switch has been turned on.
Microsoft’s research indicates that
this constant switching between tasks,
productivity, and distractions not only affects
our productivity but also has long-term
consequences for our ability to maintain focus
and attention.
Every time we dive into the digital abyss
of social media and the many apps that clog
our phones, it’s like unplugging our focus. We
then have to start from scratch, rebuilding our
focus, leading to significant losses in efficiency
and productivity, not to mention the need to

FITNESS STYLE 25