{"id":6711,"date":"2007-03-04T21:00:23","date_gmt":"2007-03-04T21:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/2007\/03\/04\/attention-plate\/"},"modified":"2007-03-04T21:00:23","modified_gmt":"2007-03-04T21:00:23","slug":"attention-plate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/2007\/03\/04\/attention-plate\/","title":{"rendered":"Attention Plateaus"},"content":{"rendered":"\u23f3 Approximate reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> min<\/span><\/span>

What is the attentional counterpart to a fitness plateau? <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The fitness plateau happens when a workout routine goes flat. One answer,
\nthen, is the anti-routine, a varied circuit stoked by variability, a notch above
\ncross-training. <\/p>\n

Without going too far with the brain-muscle metaphor, I like the idea of
\nattention plateaus for the (inevitable?) flattening off of a given
\nproject. Sure, some projects will have plateaus before ramping up again.
\nBut attention plateaus account for the stall-out. Something like a precognitive
\nhabitus at the point where it is a drain, applying a slow deceleration. Brake.<\/p>\n

It goes not only to writing projects but to reading rhythms. A spark of
\ninterest. Eventually, an attention plateau, a lull. Flattening, interest
\ndwindles. Also with RSS feeds. Could feed readers allow for this? Could it
\ninclude a feature that would allow me to table a feed so that it updates only
\nevery two weeks while another one updates every day, and another updates every
\nmonth? <\/p>\n

Attention plateaus are not a permanent condition, right? Their impermanence
\nincludes a built-in argument for the returns on disruption, variety and purposive
\ndigression, like Stone’s "continuous partial attention.<\/a>" <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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