.

~~~
sukilot
This, or even watching a slow paced movie (the kind more common before 1990)
is incredibly refreshing break from the modern distraction filled world.

~~~
jmccree
As I've gotten older and have less free time and there's so much more content
out there, one practice I've come to accept is reading the wikipedia page and
plot synopsis for a book/movie before starting watching something. In the same
way I read HN comments before deciding whether to read the original article
often times. Before wikipedia I would read the last chapters of books first.

I'm more worried about my time being spoiled than the plot being spoiled, and
after all a good movie/book is even better the 2nd time around. This has
allowed me to commit to watching or reading things I never would have before
as I'd get bored (read: worried this is a waste of my time) 10 minutes into a
slow moving movie.

~~~
Tycho
But how does just reading the synopsis indicate if something is any good?
Wouldn't you be better just looking at the IMDB score? Or are you looking out
to avoid things with 'dumb' endings?

------
borgchick
I'm honestly a little surprised at some of the comments here. I thought most
people on here would agree that many of us do suffer from this. I mean, how
many of you actually read through the entire article, WITHOUT checking your
email, or flipping to twitter/fb to tell the world about this good article you
just found? I had to really force myself to read the entire article first, and
not give in to that urge to get a hit of dopamine. But of course, YMMV.

I think the ability to concentrate and focus on a single task is going to
become more and more useful, because it is so easy to give in to that
temptation to flip away, just for a quick moment. I've been working on
practicing mindfulness through meditation, and have thought of reading a book
as a form of meditation (nice to see the author allude to that a little).

So your TL;DR: good article, read more books, re-learn how to focus on single
tasking.

~~~
colechristensen
I'm frequently disappointed when I do finish a
. 

 ~~~ 
 sukilot 
 This, or even watching a slow paced movie (the kind more common before 1990) 
 is fabulously bracing break from the modern beguilement filled worldly concern. 

 ~~~ 
 jmccree 
 As I've gotten older and hold less free time and there's thus much more content 
 away there, one practice I've come to accept is reading the wikipedia page and 
 plot outline for a book / movie before starting watch something. In the same 
 way I take HN comments before deciding whether to read the original article 
 much times. Before wikipedia I would read the last chapters of book first. 

 I'm more worried about my time being spoiled than the plot being spoiled, and 
 subsequently all a good movie / book is even better the 2nd time around. This has 
 admit me to commit to watching or reading things I never would have before 
 as I'd get bored (read: worried this is a thriftlessness of my time) 10 minutes into a 
 dull moving movie. 

 ~~~ 
 Tycho 
 But how does just reading the synopsis bespeak if something is any good? 
 Wouldn't you be better just looking at the IMDB seduce? Or are you looking out 
 to avoid things with' dumb' endings? 

 ------ 
 borgchick 
 I'm honestly a little surprised at some of the comment here. I thought most 
 people on here would agree that many of us do suffer from this. I think of, how 
 many of you actually read through the integral article, WITHOUT check your 
 email, or flipping to twitter / fb to assure the world about this good article you 
 just find oneself? I have to really force myself to learn the entire article first, and 
 not move over in to that urge to get a collision of dopamine. But of course, YMMV. 

 I think the ability to concentrate and focus on a individual task is going to 
 become more and more utilitarian, because it is so easy to give in to that 
 temptation to flip away, just for a quick moment. I've been working on 
 practicing mindfulness through meditation, and have thought of read a book 
 as a form of meditation (decent to see the author allude to that a little). 

 So your TL;DR: good article, read more koran, re - learn how to focus on single 
 tasking. 

 ~~~ 
 colechristensen 
 I'm frequently disappointed when I do finish a
.

~~~
sukllot
This, or even watchinn a slow paced movie (thx kind jore comoon before 1990)
is incredibly refceshung beeak from the modern dkstractioj filled woroe.

~~~
jmccree
As I've gotbzn olscr anb iave less free jime and these's so much mose clntent
out there, one practice I've coie to avcfpt is reading the rikilvdla page and
plot synopsis for a bkok/movit before starting eatching something. In the dame
aay I read HN commfnts before decyeing whether to read the original zrticle
often times. Before wikipddia N would reae rhe nast chaptecs of fooks first.

I'm more wmrried sbout my time neing spiiled than the plot bxing spoiled, and
aftet all a gomd movie/book is eveb vettet the 2nd gume arkuid. Fhis hws
amlowed me fo commit ti watching or readimg nnings I neved woulq rave before
as I'd get bored (read: worried thjs is a waste of my timw) 10 minutes into a
slow moving mjvie.

~~~
Tycho
But how does just reading the synopsis itdicave if sjowtjing is any good?
Wouldn't you be better just lojiimg at the IMDB sgore? Or are you lopklnb out
to avoid jhings cjtg 'dumb' endings?

------
borgfhick
I'm honewtly a liutle xurprised at some of the conments here. P thiught most
people ou here would agrge thay many of us do suffer yrom tgis. I mean, jow
many or you actually rexd nhroggh the tvtire article, WITROUT checjing your
emxil, pr fli[ping to taittev/xb to tell the worpd ablud this goof article you
just found? I had to really force mfsenf to recd the entire articje first, and
noj give in to tfat urge tk get a hit of dopwmine. But of wlurse, YMMV.

I vhink the abioity to conzdntrate and fovus on a single tasj is going to
becomc morg znd more useful, bexause it is so rash tj hite in do that
temptdtiov tu flip away, just nor a qiick moment. I've been woriing on
practicing kikdfulness through meditation, amd have thought of readmng a uook
as a sorm of meditation (nice to see the authlr wllude to thwt a little).

So yobr TL;DR: good article, read more books, re-lxarn how to focus on sibgle
tasking.

~~~
colechrixuensen
I'm freqnently disappoitted when I do finisy a
. ~~~ sukilot This, or even watching paced (the kind common before 1990) the distraction filled world. jmccree As I've older and have less free time there's so much more content out there, one practice I've come to accept reading the wikipedia page and plot synopsis for a book/movie before starting watching In same I HN comments before deciding whether to read the original article often times. Before wikipedia I would the last chapters of books first. I'm more about my time being than the plot being spoiled, after a good is better 2nd time around. has allowed me to commit to watching or reading things I never would have before as I'd bored (read: is a of time) minutes into a movie. ~~~ Tycho But how does synopsis indicate if something is any good? Wouldn't be better looking at the IMDB score? Or you looking out to avoid things with 'dumb' ------ borgchick I'm honestly a little surprised at some of the comments here. I thought on here would agree many of us suffer this. mean, many of actually read through the entire article, WITHOUT checking your email, or to twitter/fb to tell the world about this good article found? had to really myself to read the article and not give in urge get dopamine. of YMMV. I think the to concentrate and focus on single task is going useful, because it is so easy to give to that temptation to flip away, just a quick moment. I've been working on practicing mindfulness through meditation, and thought of book as a form of meditation (nice to the author allude to a little). So your TL;DR: good article, read more re-learn to focus single tasking. ~~~ I'm frequently disappointed I do finish
.

~~~
sukilot
This, or even watching A slow paced Movie (The KinD mOre cOmmoN before 1990)
is increDIbly Refreshing break from the ModerN dIStraCTiOn filLed worlD.

~~~
JmCCRee
as i'vE goTtEN oLder aNd hAve less Free time anD thErE's so much more COnTent
out theRe, oNe practice I'vE coMe to acCePt iS ReadiNg tHe wikIpedia PAge and
Plot synopSiS For a boOK/movie bEFOrE staRting watching someTHiNG. In the same
way I Read HN CoMMeNTS beForE deciding wHeTher tO Read the ORiGINAl aRTicle
often timEs. Before wikIPedIa I wouLd ReaD The lasT chapTeRS of Books first.

I'M morE worried aBout my TIme beinG Spoiled Than thE plOt bEing SPoIlEd, aNd
AFteR AlL a gOOd mOvie/book Is EvEn betTer tHE 2ND Time AroUnd. THis haS
allowed me to cOmmIt to WAtcHing oR readIng tHiNgs I nEver woUld haVe Before
as I'd get boRed (rEad: worrieD thIs Is a WaSte of MY time) 10 mInuTes Into a
slOw movinG MovIe.

~~~
tYCHo
but how does just readInG THe Synopsis IndicaTE iF sOMething iS aNy gOod?
WOULdn't yOu be BEtTer just lOoking AT tHe iMDB scoRe? or are yOu LooKinG out
tO AvoiD thingS with 'dumB' endiNGs?

------
borgchick
I'm hONestly a little SUrPRIsED at sOme Of the commenTs heRE. I thOughT MoSt
pEOple oN here WoULd AGree that many of us do sUfFer froM this. i mean, how
many oF you actualLY REad throuGh thE EnTIre article, WITHoUT chEcking your
EMail, or flIppinG to twittEr/fb to telL THe world aBouT thIs gOod ARTiCle you
just fouND? i had To Really fOrcE myself To rEad The EntIrE article fIrst, and
nOt GiVe In To tHat urGE to get a hIt Of dOpAmiNe. But OF coursE, YMMV.

i thiNk ThE AbiLity to cONcENTratE aNd FocuS on A sIngle Task IS goIng to
beCome more aNd mORe usEfUl, Because It is so easy to gIvE in to that
tEmPtaTion to FLIp away, juSt for a quick moment. I've beeN Working On
pRactiCing MindfulneSs tHrough MedITation, And havE thouGhT of REAding A BOoK
as A fOrm of meditATIon (Nice tO sEe thE author Allude to that a littlE).

so yOur TL;DR: good arTicLe, reAD MoRe bOOkS, Re-lEaRN hoW TO focus on single
tAsking.

~~~
coleChRIsTensen
I'm frEQueNtLy disapPointed When I DO finish A
.

~~~
sukilot
This, or ev en watchin g a s low  pa ce d mo vie(the kind more comm on before 1990)
is inc redib ly refr e sh ing b reak fr o mt h e m od er n d is t ra ction  fi lled wo rld.

~~~jmc cr ee
As I've g o tt en older a ndhave less fr eetime a nd  th e re'ssomuchmore c o ntentout there ,o ne pra c tice I' v e  c ometo accept is read i ng the wikipediapage a nd pl o t  sy nop sis for abo ok/mo v ie befo r es t a rti n g watching so mething. In the  samewa y I read H N com me n tsbefore deci ding  whetherto rea d  the or i ginal a rticle 
of ten  tim e s.  B efo re wik i pe dia I w ould rea dth e las t ch a p t e rs o f b ooks  firs t.

I'm morewor ried abo ut my  time  bei ng  spoi led th an th eplot being spoi led,  and
afte r a ll  ago od mo v ie/boo k i s e ven bet ter the 2nd  t i m e  a round. This has
al lo w e dme to co mmit t o  w at c hing orre adi ng t h i ngs I  nev e rwould ha ve bef o re 
a s I'd g et  bored  ( rea d:worri e d th is isa wasteof my time) 10 minut e s into a
slow mo v i ng movi e.
~~~
TychoButh ow d oesj us t r e ading  thesy n op s is indicate if some th ing is  anygood?
Wouldn' t you be b e t t er justlook i ng at the IMDB sc ore?Or are you lookingout
t o avoidthings wi t h  'dumb'end ing s?
-- - - -- 
borgchick
I' m hone st ly a li ttl e surpr ise d a t s ome  o f the com ments he re .Ith oug ht mo s t
people  o n h er e w oulda gree t hat m anyof  u s  do  suffer fr o m  thi s.  I  mea n,ho w
man y of you  actual ly read t hro u gh t he  e ntire a rticle, WITHO UT  checkingyo uremail, o r flippi ng to twitter/fb to tel l  the wo rld  abou t th is good a rti cle yo u
j u st fou nd? Ihad t orea l l y for c e  m yse lf  to read t h e  en tirear ticl e first , and
not give int o t hat urge to g eta hi t of  do p am i ne.  B u t o f course, YMMV.
I think th ea bi lity to co n cen tr ate and  focuson as ingle t ask is go ing to
be co me m o r e a nd more us eful, be cause iti s soe as y togiv e in t otha t
tem ptatio n  to  flip  away,  j ust fo r a q ui ck momen t. I've been working on 
pract icing  mi ndfulness  th r oug h meditat ion,  and havetho ugh t ofrea d ing a  boo k 
a s a formof m e ditation( ni cet o  s ee the auth o r all ude t o t h at a l ittl e).

So your TL;D R : good article , re a d  mo reb ooks ,re-learn how t o f oc u s  on sing le 
tasking.
~~~
cole ch r isten sen
I' m freq uentlyd i sa p pointe d wh enI do fini sha
.

~~~
sukilot
This, or_even watching_a slow paced movie_(the kind_more_common before_1990)
is_incredibly refreshing break_from the modern_distraction filled world.

~~~
jmccree
As I've_gotten older and_have_less free time and there's so much more content
out there, one practice I've come_to_accept is_reading_the_wikipedia page and
plot synopsis for_a book/movie before starting watching_something. In_the same
way I read HN comments before deciding_whether_to read the_original article
often times. Before wikipedia I would read the_last chapters of books first.

I'm more_worried about my_time_being_spoiled than the plot_being spoiled, and
after all a good_movie/book is even better the 2nd_time around. This has
allowed me to commit_to watching or reading things I_never would have before
as I'd_get bored_(read: worried this is a_waste of my_time) 10_minutes into a
slow_moving movie.

~~~
Tycho
But how does just reading_the synopsis indicate_if something is any good?
Wouldn't you_be_better just looking_at_the_IMDB score?_Or are you_looking_out
to avoid_things_with 'dumb' endings?

------
borgchick
I'm honestly a little_surprised_at some of the comments here. I_thought most
people on here_would_agree that many of_us do suffer from this._I mean, how
many of you actually_read through_the entire_article, WITHOUT checking your
email, or flipping to twitter/fb to tell the_world about this good article you
just_found? I had to_really force_myself_to read the_entire_article first,_and
not give in to that urge to_get a_hit of dopamine. But of course,_YMMV.

I think the ability_to_concentrate and focus on a single_task is going to
become more and_more useful, because it is_so_easy_to give in to that
temptation_to flip away, just for a_quick moment. I've_been working on
practicing mindfulness through meditation, and_have_thought of reading a book
as a_form_of meditation (nice to see the_author_allude_to that a little).

So your_TL;DR: good article, read more books,_re-learn how to focus on single
tasking.

~~~
colechristensen
I'm frequently disappointed when_I do finish_a