Anyone else struggle to pay attention?

[SteelBlue]

I had a revelation yesterday while scrolling through movie choices. I was seeing a bunch of 80s, 90s and early 00s titles and realizing how deeply I invested attention into movies and tv in those times. Going to theaters, spending an hour on a weekend evening pacing Blockbuster looking for that night’s movie and then sitting there and really watching it, looking forward to certain tv shows each week etc… and then investing my time and attention in a way I just don’t feel anymore.

I notice now, no matter how good the film or tv show is, I’m relatively distracted. Part of it may be a pull to the phone that we didn’t have back in the day but it’s more than that. I lose interest in a series I loved for the first few episodes, I get halfway through a film and just tap out or find it difficult to endure. Maybe it’s just me but I have a feeling others may have similar experiences. My theories:

1) I got old and they aren’t writing tv and movies “for me” any more. I’m 52 and long past the 18-34 group for whom everything is planned and written. Perhaps I’m just naturally noticing this more as I age.

2) The number of streaming services that need content has allowed for content to get made that would NEVER have been green-lighted 20 years ago.

3) As mentioned above the phone has decreased my ability to properly attend to something.

Based on the fact that I’m able to read basically a novel a week most years and don’t have problems attending during reading time I think point three is too simple and while probably a small part of the problem is likely not the cause. I think it’s some combo of 1 and 2 but I’m curious if others have similar thoughts or other theories. Or, maybe it’s just me?

[BigFatMeanie]

Spending an hour in Blockbuster looking for a movie?

I never devoted nearly as much attention to stuff back in the day as you apparently did but, like you, I will tap out of a show or movie early now compared to back then.

I think it's partly related to the fact that you can pretty much resume something right where you left off - costs you nothing to jump into and out of a show and you can just flick the button and find something different. If you spent an hour picking just the right show and then another hour getting into it and you knew the video tape had to go back on Monday morning then your investment level from the start was way higher and of course you're probably going to be willing to grind through the show due to the already sunk cost.

[Mormon Red Death]

I find I just go read what happened in the show a lot of the times while watching

[SteelBlue]

Spending an hour in Blockbuster looking for a movie?

Ok maybe hyperbole, but choosing was definitely a bit of an event back then. Especially if there were multiple people voting on the final choices.

[SteelBlue]

I find I just go read what happened in the show a lot of the times while watching

I feel this. Maybe we’d have done it back then too if it had been an option but this is exactly the feeling I’m trying to describe.

[BigPiney]

I keep meaning to read Stolen Focus (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57933306), but keep getting distracted by other books. Maybe this can be the book we read in this thread's book club.

I also have some of the same issues you mention.

[Clark Addison]

Spending an hour in Blockbuster looking for a movie?

I had 8 siblings. If we got out of Blockbuster in less than an hour and without at least one person yelling at another it was a major win.

[BigFatMeanie]

I find I just go read what happened in the show a lot of the times while watching

Both my wife and I do this as well.

[Pelado]

I had a revelation yesterday while scrolling through movie choices. I was seeing a bunch of 80s, 90s and early 00s titles and realizing how deeply I invested attention into movies and tv in those times. Going to theaters, spending an hour on a weekend evening pacing Blockbuster looking for that night’s movie and then sitting there and really watching it, looking forward to certain tv shows each week etc… and then investing my time and attention in a way I just don’t feel anymore.

I notice now, no matter how good the film or tv show is, I’m relatively distracted. Part of it may be a pull to the phone that we didn’t have back in the day but it’s more than that. I lose interest in a series I loved for the first few episodes, I get halfway through a film and just tap out or find it difficult to endure. Maybe it’s just me but I have a feeling others may have similar experiences. My theories:

1) I got old and they aren’t writing tv and movies “for me” any more. I’m 52 and long past the 18-34 group for whom everything is planned and written. Perhaps I’m just naturally noticing this more as I age.

2) The number of streaming services that need content has allowed for content to get made that would NEVER have been green-lighted 20 years ago.

3) As mentioned above the phone has decreased my ability to properly attend to something.

Based on the fact that I’m able to read basically a novel a week most years and don’t have problems attending during reading time I think point three is too simple and while probably a small part of the problem is likely not the cause. I think it’s some combo of 1 and 2 but I’m curious if others have similar thoughts or other theories. Or, maybe it’s just me?

Tl;dr

[falafel]

Yes. I haven't finishe a tv series in a while. I have a long list of movies I "want" to watch, but when the time comes, I find I don't want to commit to two hours or anything.

[Pelado]

I have no problem finishing movies or TV series I enjoy, but I'm not sure that's the best measure of my ability to pay attention.

Like falafel, I also have a long list of movies saved on a watch list for later. Some are saved because I think my wife or kids may enjoy watching them with me. Others are saved because they looked interesting, but maybe not that interesting. Or maybe I just need to be in the right mood for whatever that show is.

[Clark Addison]

Somewhat related to this, I was wondering today about the upcoming writer's strike (I think they've already voted to approve the strike?). In the "old" days, you'd have a strike, and suddenly people weren't able to watch the new episode of The Cosby show or The Office. It wasn't world war 3, but it was a noticeable impact that people across the country felt.

Now, everyone has a backlog of 30 shows they have been meaning to get to. I wonder if anyone will even notice the strike.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I can't really say I have noticed that phenomenon. I love me a good tv series or movie.

One of the benefits of growing old is that I can rewatch any movie from 10+ years ago and in most cases it is like watching again for the first time.

[Uncle Ted]

Tl;dr

LOL.

[fusnik]

I keep meaning to read Stolen Focus (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57933306), but keep getting distracted by other books. Maybe this can be the book we read in this thread's book club.

I also have some of the same issues you mention.

I read Stolen Focus, really enjoyed it.

I haven’t been able to incorporate all the suggestions in the book yet but a couple things have really helped me:

Before I open my phone in the morning I read a couple paragraphs from a physical book. Usually a self help book about mindfulness/focus to set my day

Also for the first hour of each day our family tries really hard to connect with each other and discuss what matters to each of us that day, how we can help each other and use each others strengths to attack the problems of the day and how we are uniquely qualified to accomplish the tasks.

I’m an awful sleeper and we’ve tried really hard to create an environment that is pro good sleep. I still don’t sleep enough and stay up way to late but one thing we’ve done is once we enter into our bedroom to get ready for bed the phones go on do not disturb and do not come off do not disturb until we’ve had a meaningful discussion in the morning.

We don’t really have social media so we don’t doom scroll which is helpful. When we watch a movie/show together we place our phones away from us which is insanely hard the first couple times.