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It's clearly a very special month because, despite there only being 30 days in it, we've, somehow, managed to squeeze in three Speak Your Brains.
"But, Steverino," I hear you cry. "How are those who are new to this site meant to know what that even means?"
This is what it means.
That topic could be about what's new or about what's old or about whatever the word is for something that's in between being old and new.
Therefore, feel free to make use of the comments section below, to register that topic. And then we shall discover just what the world makes of it.
Posts
13 comments:
Since this is a slightly older readership, in the main (well, judging only from the comments, that is)…
How’s your attention span these days? Are you finding it shorter than it used to be in the pre-smartphone age? I certainly am.
This is prompted by preparing for our holiday in September and the fact that my wife and I have a strict no iPhones policy for the duration. It allows you to relax and concentrate properly like in the old days.
I’m finding it a problem these days. Does anyone else feel a bit fragmented?
Sorry it’s such a serious question.
Matthew - Yes, my attention span's reduced, too.
In the 1990s, I'd stay up late, watching long movies. Nowadays, my concentration span won't hack it. Plus, almost everything seems like a cliche/retread. Even historical documentaries which I used to watch a lot, I often can't go the distance with, now. I scan the '9 pm slot', for shows lasting an hour - not films, or long documentaries. Blaze TV (even shows which aren't good) often serve as 'background'. Short 1970s/80s sitcoms are good, too. I also watch the News, even though it's depressing garbage - plus the offered 'slant' often annoys me, too. Watching Youtube videos/plus probably age-related concentration loss, I suppose. I concentrate best, when reading in bed - but I don't last as long at that, either - unlike when I was young and read for hours at a time!
Phillip
Matthew, thanks for the topic. I wouldn't say my attention span's shortened. I'd say it's widened. These days, I seem to feel a need to be doing multiple activities at once, such as watching a film, Googling things and checking my emails all at the same time.
I was wondering why the battery on my iPad was so low every morning and I've now worked out why.
Normally in the evening, I'll be reading a book on the kindle and maybe checking the news or SDC on the iPad in between chapters. In the morning the battery's still at 60% or whatever.
But now the World Cup's on and I find myself playing games or browsing the web at the same time as I'm watching the football. And in the morning the battery's down at 20%.
Very easy to slip into bad habits.
But more generally for attention span, hopefully spending a few hours painting 12-15 hours/month should keep me sharp, touch wood.
Gold star.
Yes. It is a well documented addiction: the constant need for a distraction because of the “thrill” it gives the brain..
I find myself interrupting my work constantly to “take a hit” from the “internet.” That would mean personal emails, news aggregators, Talk Sport, France 24, STEVE DOES COMICS… like every 10 minutes?
Work app slow to download? Take a hit.
On a boring conference call? Take a hit.
Stuck at a stop light? Take a hit.
Droppin a deuce? Take a hit.
Because of the additction I cant stay focused for any length of time if the phone is with me In the sense that I keep wanting a hit.
That said it is an easy addiction to break. Just out the phone down or leave the house without it. It’s not like giving up booze or cigs or narcotics; there are no withdrawal symptoms . But man, once its back in my hands, down the rabbit hole I fall.
Joe P
Matthew- actually, my attention span seems to be a bit longer than it used to be. Perhaps it's a side effect of retirement, having more time available; but now I can spend an hour or more just listening to music, or reading. I'll watch a full-length movie (pausing only to take the dog out) with no issues.
Steve- ah, a multitasker! Not something I can manage. Employers always like those who can do several things at once...
DM if you could elaborate on your “ painting 12-15 hours a month to stay sharp” I would appreciate it. I retire on December 31 and though i have a ton of things i want to do, if retirement is like my current weekend mornings, i’ll spend a few hours each morning taking a hit from the internet instead of doing something enriching.
Joe P
Sorry Joe - that should have said spend a few hours painting, 12-15 days/month.
Most mornings I'm up about 8, get breakfast while watching a few YouTube videos, sometimes too many. Then out for a four mile walk, take a shower and it's almost lunchtime. And then out to the studio in the garden to do a painting with a bit of music on. Will take up most of the afternoon, especially when I add in the time to write it all up on my blog and post it all over the place.
Some days there's no painting. Monday's housework day and I take the odd other day off: if I paint for three days in succession, the standard drops off a bit, so there are days where I'll read instead, or take a longer walk or just head out to shops or whatever.
For years I thought I'd be spending my retirement playing chess, playing poker or doing an open university degree but things turned out very different. I went to a watercolour class on holiday in about 1999 and occasionally indulged a bit after that but only started painting with any regularity and learning from books in 2018. Retired in 2022.
It's important to have something to keep you busy in retirement: those one off jobs that have been waiting for years will eventually run out. Whether that's studying, creating, blogging, competing, volunteering, whatever, is up to the individual. But ideally something that keeps you busy most days: going to the football once a week or going travelling four times a year wouldn’t work for me.
If you want to do something creative, then there will be all sorts of local classes you can sign up for to learn new arts/crafts.
Thanks DM! Glad you have that thing to look forward to! So important according to my 91 year old dad’
So this is a dilemma I have. I strum the Ukulele and have fun enough. Will learn finger picking.
The dilemma is my guitar-playing son says frequently “You meed to learn guitar”
I keep thinking about it but am like”Maybe I just want to have fun and NOT struggle to learn a new instrument.”
Yet I know that learning a new instrument is like a gold star approved method for staving off dementia. Thoughts?
Joe
Dudes!
My FB tells me that today is Red’s birthday! Happy birthday Rob!
And Matthew I forgot to add that FB is where I get the most hits from! I should just stay focused watching France Sweden. Nope! Inmeed a toot every 5-10 minutes and then I go FB to SDC.
Joe P.
Yes, learning to play a new instrument sounds like a great way to stay on the ball in retirement. Especially given that it sounds like you already have musical talents.
I'd struggle though. Musical instruments are like languages to me in that everything I learn is stored in a leaky barrel. If I don't practice, I forget everything really quickly. I have nothing but admiration for musicians and linguists.
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