Oh, how we're distracted…What came first, a frighteningly distracted nation due to a hyper-fast technological revolution or an outrageous number of doctor-diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) patients? Unlike this blog's title, ADD, now recognized as ADHD without hyperactivity, is undoubtedly a diagnosable and well-understood syndrome that affects millions around the world. It is defined as the following:
A syndrome, usually diagnosed in childhood, characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness, a short attention span, and often hyperactivity, and interfering especially with academic, occupational, and social performance.
Unfortunately, to some degree these symptoms largely coincide with the symptoms experienced by many of us simply attempting to function within a modern 21st century society. Obviously some regions of the world are affected on a grander order, but generally speaking it has and continues to take hold on what we call developed first world civilizations. Fueled by cutting-edge advertisement and exploited by Hollywood, we have truly become an Attention Deficit Society.
We as a people have literally become the internet; always connected and relentlessly exposed to a bombardment of information charged through us at rampant velocities. The scary part is how attached we've become to this reality. For example, we all engage in and accept some degree of Restless Dialing. Justifiably assuming your cell phone is just a reach away, it's become virtually impossible to pass free moments without anxiously scrolling through our cell and ringing everyone except those whom you really don’t have the patience to chat with. We actually trick ourselves into thinking we're accomplishing something by efficiently using those vacant thirty minutes while waiting around for something. And because those bases needed to be touched sometime anyway, we rationalize that we are saving money by calling right now instead of later. Because time is money, right?
The good news is that we can change habits on an order of several weeks (if we consciously work at it). And most of us have much to work on because not only do we engage in restless cell phone dialing, but also Restless Channel Surfing. How unproductive do you feel when you start at channel 2 and rapidly flip through commercial after commercial until you arrive back at 2? And have you ever caught yourself just clicking away on the internet without even a purpose for being on in the first place? Heck, I’ve once caught myself anxiously opening and closing folders on my computer’s desktop! Why are we procrastinating so much? And what are we procrastinating from, Life?
With plenty of at-your-fingertip technologies constantly becoming available for you to get your hands on, a fix will always be within reach. Maybe it’s your high definition plasma screen TV? It could be one of the colorful iPods in your house? It may even be your new laptop, iPhone, or digital camera? Did I mention most of these entities come with computer software programs that always seem to slow you down while elevating anxiety? The next time you show your friend your latest must have electronic, take a second to think about the elaborate booze cruise the company’s marketing department is on celebrating record sales...
-Forrest
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