I was that curious kid who could focus for several hours and lose track of time. I don’t remember what exactly happened throughout the years, but I’ve come to the disturbing realization that I’ve lost my focus. I’ve lost my attention. In an environment where everything moves fast, I now feel the urge to consume all the things, fast, and right now!
I attended a German course over the past few weeks. I couldn’t help noticing a 20-something Ukrainian guy who kept scrolling through Instagram posts even during class. He seemed simply addicted. We’ve all become sick. We’ve all lost our focus.1 We need to learn how to consume slowly. We are busier than Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton himself. Does that make any sense to you? Now just slow down and pay attention. Pausing moves you forward.
You don’t have to read any blog post as soon as it is published. That’s why I removed even the RSS link from my blog. Don’t worry, if you have ever liked any of my posts, you’ll come back. Or maybe not, and it’s not a problem. You cannot read all the things written by everyone anyway.
I don’t have X or Instagram accounts anymore. If you really need to reach out to me, shoot an email. You’ll probably hear back in a few weeks. I don’t receive notifications for emails, but rather from time to time I check my mailbox. This has been the way for more than 100 years, and the universe has yet to collapse even if I read my emails after a few days.
I used to listen to music on an iPhone, like most of us. However, I started to feel that something was off. My phone did several things at once and kept bombarding me with notifications, which made it extremely hard to focus. Then, a few weeks ago, I bought a FiiO JM21, an Android-based DAP (Digital Audio Player), which completely changed my relationship with music. With its focus on listening only, the JM21 allowed me to pay attention to the music and be present without being disturbed for long periods of time. I paired it with Truthear Hexa IEMs that I already owned. I use Apple Music, but I don’t stream. I pick albums in advance, albums that are pieces of art prepared meticulously by their artists. Even if one or two songs in an album are mediocre, added just to fill the space, I skip the whole album. If its creator did not care about the album, why would I? Then I download the albums and always listen offline. Finally, I was able to appreciate music, complete albums from start to finish, as art, instead of consuming several songs back to back and mostly skipping them in the middle. If you feel the need to learn more about the device, Kevin Wammer has a nice article on its big brother, the M21.2
I removed the YouTube app from all my devices because, like everything else, it tends to pull you into very short and quickly consumed content. I try to watch longer movies now, close to 3 hours, and I finally managed to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey. What a movie! I enjoyed every single minute. My previous record was 15 minutes into the movie before my phone captured me again.
I now read books, preferably physical ones, if not then Kindle. Frankly, I find Kindle more convenient because it has a backlight, and I can increase the font size to fit my old eyes. I also bought a few magazines, inspired by Fatih Arslan. Before, it was impossible for me to enjoy magazines, and interestingly, I now learn from them as I pay real attention. I’m currently reading the Berlin issue of Drift Magazine and the Kyoto issue of Magazine B while having the best time ever.
I started to pursue monotasking and try to do only one thing at a time but really focus on it. When I listen to music I just listen to music. When I read, I just read. While walking I let my mind wander. That’s when connections between ideas happen. That’s how I usually come up with my blog posts which include a few different but well connected ideas.
I had been using a Garmin sports watch since 2017. I tracked my performance, body battery, stress, sleep, and so on. But again, I started to feel that something was wrong. There were too many things racing for my attention.
I have always adored mechanical watches, and perhaps because I had recently started paying more attention to art, I finally pulled the trigger. Last week, I visited Glashütte, which has been an important centre for the German art of watchmaking for more than 180 years. This small town has only around 7000 residents. Even though they make some of the best timepieces, time tends to slow down there, almost to a stop.
I first visited the German Watch Museum,3 which showcases the complete history of watchmaking in the city. Below is an excerpt from the exhibition, which made me stop in front of it for several minutes and think.
In our fast-paced present, characterized by appointments, speed and permanent availability, conscious moments of calm and pause are more valuable than ever.
Unlike the high-precision digital timepieces of our smartphones and digital watches, the TimeGiver does not demand accuracy and does not push for efficiency. It reminds us to slow down; invites you to take your time - for conscious idleness, a cup of tea or a few quiet breaths.
After the museum, I stopped for a coffee in a coffee shop (I believe there are only two coffee shops in Glashütte) and used my modest B1-level German to chat with the barista. Being able to make small talk in German is quite a new experience for me, even though Berlin has been my home for more than 9 years. There was no one else in the shop besides us, and I felt present, enjoying the coffee, the cake, and the chat.
Then I went directly to the Nomos shop right next to the museum. I wanted to buy a timeless piece at its heart, where it was built. I ended up buying a Tangente 38, Reference 164.4 As I explained to the sales advisor in the shop, who did not speak English either, this is my very first mechanical watch, and it means a lot to me.
The next day, I hiked through Schrammsteine. It was probably the longest 16 kilometers of my life, but it was a really rewarding experience. I slowed down and got lost in my thoughts, connecting the pieces that turned into this blog post. Since I don’t share my blog posts anywhere and I don’t have visitor tracking, I never know if anyone is reading them. But if you’re here, I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time!
