Edouardo Honig
Published: 31 Mar 2025. Last updated: 31 Mar 2025.
Have you noticed that people seem to often be on their phones? When in a group setting, how many are actually paying attention?
It turns out that, despite being in close proximity, many of us are not present.
It's hard for me to pinpoint the first time I noticed this common behavior. In college classrooms, it's clear that some students are not paying attention to the speaker. When talking to certain people, it seems like they don't hear you. And when eating a meal together, some concurrently browse their phones instead of solely eating or at least conversing.
Everyone may do this on occasion, but one really notices it when they are on the receiving end. I once went to dinner with a friend that I hoped to get to know better, and they just took out their phone and wasn't receptive to conversation throughout the meal. Needless to say, I was disappointed.
Beyond the obvious antisocial aspect of ignoring others in favor of ones' phone, or the potential negative educational consequences of not paying attention in a lecture, there are also some benefits from spending more time present. Particularly, you may be able to notice details in your environment.
On a walk you might avoid a puddle or notice a rare bird. In a meeting you'll probably be able to think more deeply and creatively if your focus is only on the subject at hand. And at a social gathering, you might learn more about people from their body language and idiosyncrasies.
Even if you're not distracted by your phone or absent minded thoughts, you can probably still increase your awareness. In a mundane environment, there is value in being present, you just have to notice it.
This post may as well be titled "You should be attentive" or "How to get more out of any moment".
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