The Struggle Of ‘Popcorn Brain’ And How To Cope With It
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If you ever find yourself struggling to focus on a single task or thought, you may have “popcorn brain.” In 2011, the University of Washington researcher David Levy said that too much time in front of digital devices can lead to this. He describes it as the mind being so hooked on electronic multitasking that the slower-paced life offline holds no interest. A person’s attention quickly jumps from thought to thought, like the kernels inside a popcorn bag.
In 2023, CNN reported that the human attention span is shrinking. A professor of informatics at the University of California, who studies how digital media affects our lives, told the outlet that in 2004, the average attention on a screen was 2½ minutes. “Some years later, we found attention spans to be about 75 seconds. Now we find people can only pay attention to one screen for an average of 47 seconds,” she added.
Is social media to blame?
There’s a study that shows consistent use of phones, computers, and social media platforms has a “profound effect” on our attention spans. Another study reported by Scientific Reports found that the presence of a smartphone reduces cognitive performance. A study by Stanford University determined that switching our attention between social media, smartphones, and tablets, as well as TV and radio, harms our ability to complete simple tasks.
How to cope with popcorn brain?
There’s hope if you have popcorn brain. Some people can easily switch from the constant activity of online life to the slower pace of the real world. Some ways to cope with popcorn brain include keeping a record of your online life, setting time limits for your internet use, picking up a non-digital activity, or getting tested.
Most phones have ways to track your screen time. However, it doesn’t give you exact amounts. Think about it. Those phone features only track screen time with phones and not other means of technology you use throughout the day. But it can give you somewhat of an idea of how much screen time you consume. According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, there are many benefits to slimming down screen time such as improvements to your physical and mental health.
If you feel like you may have a problem with the amount of time you’re devoting to the internet, or if someone you love is concerned, you can always get tested. The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction offers a virtual Internet addiction test that can help you determine whether it might be time to shut down, log off, or step away.
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Don't Ever Apologize for These 10 Things
Many of us tend to offer apologies too frequently, even when unnecessary. Occasionally, we find ourselves saying “sorry” for circumstances beyond our control, such as unfavorable weather during an event we’re hosting. At times, we extend apologies for personal life decisions that are well within our rights, like switching jobs or ending a relationship.
Furthermore, we might apologize due to our heightened sensitivity to others’ emotions, in hopes that we didn’t accidentally upset them. It’s great to apologize when we’ve genuinely messed up or think we might have hurt someone without meaning to. But there are some choices we should just own and not feel the need to apologize for.
Excessive Apologizing
According to a report by Forbes, excessive apologizing often occurs in individuals who struggle with low self-esteem, a fear of conflict, and a concern about others’ opinions. They say this tendency is closely linked to having weak personal boundaries, which can lead to taking responsibility for situations we have no involvement in or no control over. As a result, we quickly experience guilt, as if everything is our fault.
In a study published in The European Journal of Social Psychology, researchers found that with each apology, individuals may experience a decrease in their confidence, potentially influencing their self-image. On the other hand, participants who refrained from expressing remorse in these situations showed signs of higher self-esteem, an increased sense of control, and an enhanced sense of integrity, as per the research findings.
When things get rocky with a partner, friend, family member, or coworker, saying a heartfelt “I’m sorry” can be the way to patch things up. Ideally, both sides would do some soul-searching and own up to any wrongdoing. If you’re wondering whether you should apologize for something, just take a peek at situations where there may be no need to apologize.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.