Let me start my new blog about popcorn brain with a frank admission. It will take me ages to write it, even though it’s just a few dozen sentences. Not because I have more urgent things to do. Not even because I don’t know what to write. It will take ages because my brain has slowly evolved to be, well, a bit distracted.
And of course there is a name for this very modern condition. And a very modern cause behind it all.
What is popcorn brain?
In a nutshell, it’s when your mind battles with scattered thoughts and your attention is constantly switching from one thing to another. You lose focus as you are compulsively filling your brain with stuff against your will.
This can lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety and fatigue, even problems with sleep. For some it can seem overwhelming at times.
Are you a popcorn brain?
Do you own a smartphone? If so, the answer is likely to be a big fat YES. Take a minute to mentally list out the different ways your phone can distract you … even without social media which often gets all the blame … texts, the 37 WhatsApp groups others added you into without asking, emails, news headlines, football score flashes …
So, what are the symptoms?
There is no official list of symptoms that I could find, but common signs to watch for are thought to be:
- Reduced attention span and lower productivity.
- Difficulty concentrating on longer, slower-paced tasks – like writing a blog.
- A constant need for stimulation and so excessive screen-time.
- Restlessness when not engaged with digital media.
How to fight that popcorn in your brain
The most obvious way is to set time-limits on phone-usage – you can do this for each app in your phone settings. Mute /or leave) some of those WhatsApp groups (so very satisfying!).
Even better, put actual physical distance between you and your handset – use this time to do one of the “other things” you enjoy – a walk, a book, a power nap, literally anything really. And whatever you do, when you find yourself brainlessly scrolling … give your head a wobble and hide your phone under a cushion.
Now that we’ve sorted that out …
If anything that you can’t hide under a cushion is constantly gnawing away at you, remember you are not alone. Treacle.me includes links to all the brilliant mental health support groups such as Mind plus hundreds of other local and national groups offering free support and advice about finances, work, family issues, plus opportunities for volunteering and so on, many of which you simply won’t be aware of. Treacle.me is free to use, has no annoying ads and never asks for your data.
Take care out there.
Helen
