Is Our Attention Slipping?

7.10.2022 “What Happens Next?” Is Our Attention Slipping? | 68 Having trouble focusing lately? You’re not alone – and you probably already know it. From TikTok to ‘The Times’, it seems everyone’s paying attention to, well, attention. During the pandemic lockdowns, many of us took up practices such as mindfulness and meditation, while others discovered that their struggles juggling tasks might be the result of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, (ADHD). Season seven of Monash University’s podcast, “What Happens Next?”, kicks off with a focus on focus. Has the average attention span dropped in the age of social media and smartphones? What's causing us to lose our focus? And why has there been a recent uptick in ADHD diagnoses among children and adults alike? To answer these questions and more, host Dr Susan Carland sits down with a range of expert guests, including Monash University Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health neuroscientists Professor Mark Bellgrove and Dr Hannah Kirk; Professor Craig Hassed OAM, Director of Education at the University’s Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies; and Timber Hawkeye, author of the bestselling book “Buddhist Boot Camp”. So while we have your attention, sit back, relax, and find out what happens next. A full transcript of this episode is available on Monash Lens. Learn more: Landmark new Australian ADHD Guideline sets the benchmark for diagnosis and treatment I think I have ADHD. How do I get a diagnosis? What might it mean for me? Addressing quality of care in mental health Professor Craig Hassed’s free online course, Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance “What Happens Next?” will be back next week with part two of this series, ‘Can We Sharpen Our Focus?’. If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, or rate or review “What Happens Next?” to help listeners like yourself discover it.