{"id":14815,"date":"2022-08-02T10:02:35","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T08:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hesmid.nl\/test\/?p=14815"},"modified":"2022-08-02T10:04:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T08:04:55","slug":"how-i-regained-concentration-and-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hesmid.nl\/test\/how-i-regained-concentration-and-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"How I regained concentration and focus (Gernot Starke 2022)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From distraction to concentration in a few simple steps<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.innoq.com\/en\/blog\/wie-ich-meine-konzentration-wiederfand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below my excerpt of this article:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 29, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, I enthusiastically produced content: books, articles, blog posts, and talks \u2013 averaging a book and a half plus five articles per year. Since about 2020, my productivity has plummeted \u2013 leaving me totally frustrated. There were no external causes, even the pandemic didn\u2019t affect me, thanks to a nice home office and online work options \u2014 so no excuses. To find a way out of the misery, I put my own working habits to the test \u2013 and diagnosed a massive loss of concentration. \u200b \u200b<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Stop Reading the News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

News is to the mind what sugar is to the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How often do you check the headlines? How often do you scroll through your news feed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2013 Rolf Dobelli stood in front of a room full of journalists and proclaimed that he did not read the news. It caused a riot. Now he finally sets down his philosophy in detail. And he practices what he preaches: he hasn\u2019t read the news for a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[..] I therefore decided to optimize my iPhone for maximum productivity – and to reduce or even eliminate distractions. \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drastic but effective<\/strong>\u200b \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. A (currently very strict) zero-news-diet<\/strong>.<\/li>
  2. (Re)configure smartphone for high productivity and minimal distractions.<\/li>
  3. Reduce distractions on tablets and computers. \u200b Add to that slight changes I made to my daily habits: I\u2019ve resolved (and managed for a few weeks now) to stop staring at my phone in the morning, and to stop using my iPhone at all in the evening after 8 PM at the latest (exception: setting an alarm for the next morning). \u200b<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    I have resolved very firmly<\/strong> not to read any news at all for a while. In other words, a zero news diet. That was really hard for me for two or three days. Yet that alone was a startling realization for me: I was actually addicted<\/em> to news and variety\u2026 and cold withdrawal<\/em> is hard with any kind of addiction, as you know. \u200b I purposefully invested the hours gained each day: As a kind of early reward for my zero news diet, I treated myself to an interesting technical book as a PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reconfigure Smartphone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The above quote, \u201cConfigure Your iPhone to Work for You, Not Against You,\u201d sets the objective: It\u2019s the subtitle of a very long blog post<\/a> by Tony Stubblebine \u2013 who, in addition to configuration suggestions, also gives various advice for being more attentive and healthy, totally worth reading in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    https:\/\/betterhumans.pub\/how-to-set-up-your-iphone-for-productivity-focus-and-your-own-longevity-bb27a68cc3d8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Optimize First for Single Tasking
    <\/strong>#1.     Turn OFF (almost) all notifications<\/a>
    #2.     Hide social media slot machines<\/a>
    #3.     Hide messaging slot machines<\/a>
    #4.     Disable app review requests<\/a>
    #5.     Turn on Do Not Disturb<\/a>
    #6.     Be strategic about your wallpaper<\/a>
    #7.     Turn off Raise to Wake<\/a>
    #8.     Add the Screen Time widget<\/a>
    #9.     Add Content Restrictions<\/a>
    #10.     (Optional) Use Restrictions to turn off Safari<\/a>
    #11.     Organize your Apps and Folders alphabetically<\/a>Switch to Google Cloud to Work Faster
    <\/strong>#12.     Choose GMail<\/a>
    #13.     Choose Google Calendar<\/a>
    #14.     Replace Apple Maps with Google Maps<\/a>
    #15.     Install the GBoard keyboard for faster typing<\/a>
    #16.     Switch to Google Photos<\/a>Install These Apps for Productivity
    <\/strong>#17.     Use Evernote for all note taking, to-do lists, everything<\/a>
    #18.     The Case for Calm as your go-to meditation app<\/a>
    #19.     Install the right goal tracker for you<\/a>
    #20.     Store all your passwords in a password manager, probably LastPass<\/a>
    #21.     Use Numerical as your default calculator<\/a>
    #22.     Put the Camera app in your toolbar<\/a>
    #23.     Use this Doppler Radar app<\/a>
    #24.     Use this Pomodoro app<\/a>
    #25.     Use Brain.fm for background noise<\/a>Use These Apps and Configurations for Deep Learning
    <\/strong>#26.     Subscribe to these podcasts<\/a>
    #27.     Install the Kindle app but never read it in bed<\/a>
    #28.     Use Safari this way<\/a>
    #29.     Organize your home screen for deep learning over shallow learning<\/a>Use These Apps and Configurations for Longevity
    <\/strong>#30.     Track steps this way<\/a>
    #31.     Prefer Time Restricted Eating Over Calorie Counting<\/a>
    #32.     Schedule Night Shift<\/a>
    #33.     Set up Medical ID<\/a>Make The Finishing Touches with These Configurations
    <\/strong>#34.     Change Siri to a man<\/a>
    #35.     Change your phone\u2019s name<\/a>
    #36.     Turn off advertising tracking<\/a>
    #37.     Set auto-lock to the maximum time<\/a>
    #38.     Set your personal hotspot password to a random three word phrase<\/a>
    #39.     Turn on control center everywhere<\/a>
    #40.     Turn on Background App Refresh
    <\/a>#41.     Delete Garage Band<\/a>
    #42.     Develop verbal memory for talking to Siri<\/a>
    #43.     Set up these text replacement shortcuts<\/a>
    #44.     Set your address<\/a>
    #45.     Backup this way<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    I summarize the things most important for me, which he illustrates in his article with many screenshots and explanations: \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n