By India McCarty
Experts are warning people about “popcorn brain”; what is it, and how can you avoid it?
“[Popcorn brain is] being so hooked on electronic multitasking that the slower paced life offline holds no interest,” David M. Levy, who coined the phrase in his book Mindful Tech, explained.
Simply put, it describes the moments when you sit down to watch a movie but immediately begin scrolling through Instagram on your phone. or starting a conversation with someone about one topic, then switching to another right away.
”’Popcorn brain’ is this idea that, like popping popcorn, our thoughts are scattered,” clinical psychologist Leslie Daly, PhD, told Women’s Health. “Because of all the media we’re consuming and the time we’re spending on internet-driven tasks, we’re having a harder time staying focused. We’re feeling like our mind is floating all over the place.”
Ashwini Nadkarni MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, explained that “popcorn brain” is due to our increased exposure to technology; smartphones and laptops encourage you to multitask but not necessarily engage with what you’re looking at.
Nadkarni shared some tips for how to combat “popcorn brain,” stressing that awareness is the most important part.
“Action is much easier once you have awareness,” she told Business Insider, adding that people struggling with “popcorn brain” should practice mindfulness.
Related: What Exactly Makes Screen Time So Harmful?
“Mindfulness describes the practice of attending to the present moment without judgment to cultivate a full awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, sensations, behavior, and surroundings,” she said.
Others recommend creating a calm and focused environment. This can include taking five minutes to slow down and center yourself, playing relaxing music while you work or simply drawing up a to-do list to help you concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Because “popcorn brain” is typically a result of your environment, experts agree that it is easy to reverse by simply cutting down on your screen time and being conscious of where your attention span is.
“The shortened attention span resulting from excessive phone use can be reversible and neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in this process,” clinical psychologist Sanam Hafeez told Real Simple.
Psychologist Andrew Kahn agreed, telling the outlet, “There is every reason to believe people can make their attention spans longer again.”
So, if you’re worried about your own “popcorn brain,” never fear — just take some time away from your screens and refocus your mind, and your attention span should go back to normal.
Read Next: Want to Make Your Brain 10 Years Younger? Go Without Internet for Two Weeks
- Content: +3Share:
- Content: +1