Are You Suffering From Continuous Partial Attention?
How we use our time each day, and the behaviors we choose to adopt, can produce positive or negative outcomes. In Dan Harris’ book, 10% Happier, I came across a few ideas that highlighted the importance of being more intentional about how we spend our time and where we focus our attention.
Almost two decades ago, Linda Stone, a former Apple and Microsoft executive, identified a specific phenomenon and coined the term, continuous partial attention. She describes this as paying partial attention, continuously. Stone says we’re motivated to do this because we don’t want to miss anything. When we’re always on, constantly scanning, and on high alert, it produces an “artificial sense of constant crisis.”This phenomenon has escalated because of our increased use and availability of technology.
According to Stone, some of the outcomes that can result from regularly engaging in continuous partial attention include:
Having a stressful lifestyle
Operating in crisis management mode
Compromising ability to reflect, make decisions, or think creatively
Being overwhelmed or over-stimulated
Feeling unfulfilled
Feeling a sense of powerlessness
Stone distinguishes between continuous partial attention and multitasking because the impulses that motivate them differ. She believes that multi-tasking is productivity- and efficiency-driven, while continuous partial attention is motivated by the desire to be connected and alert to the best opportunities.
“We have focused on managing our time. Our opportunity is to focus how we manage our attention.”
If you find that your time is being spent in the always-on mode or that your attention is continually pulled between digital devices, tasks, and interactions with people, here are some strategies suggested by Linda Stone and Janice Marturano, who is the founder of the Institute for Mindful Leadership:
Establish some tech-free time
Give your full attention to others during interactions (as in put away your phones, no typing on the computer keyboard while having conversations)
Designate part of your day as “interruption-free” time
Take a breathing break
Do one thing at a time
Take mindfulness breaks or “purposeful pauses”
Have you experienced continuous partial attention? Have you felt any of the symptoms associated with it? I’d love to hear your thoughts and your strategies. I invite you to join the conversation!
