Staying Focused in a Culture of Distraction

Recently I was waiting in line in a crowded coffee shop when something felt amiss. Despite a large number of people in the building, the shop was almost silent, with the exception of the baristas taking orders behind the counter. I looked around and realized that nearly everyone was staring at a screen. Even the tables surrounded by multiple people who seemed to know each other were silent as the patrons sat scrolling on their phones, laptops, and pads. I know I should be used to this by now— my iPhone is usually within arm’s reach, and I’ve struggled with how much is too much screen time.

According to research, the average American spends three hours and fifteen minutes a day staring at their phone and touches it 2,617 times every twenty-four hours.[1] (Those numbers do not include laptops, desktop computers, and other digital devices). But technology is here to stay, so we’ve got to figure out how to manage it well. But I can’t help but wonder what this culture of distraction is costing us.

What is it costing us spiritually?

By now, we all know a culture of distraction causes obvious issues like weakened social connections, declining attention spans, and the well-documented perils that come with spending too much time on social media. There are books not being written, portraits not being painted, and symphonies not being composed—all because the would be composers are distracted.

But as Christians, we’ve got to ask another question: What is this level of distraction costing us spiritually?

Spend a little time thumbing through the New Testament, and you’ll find that there’s a repeated command that came from the mouths of Jesus, Paul, and Peter.  Keep in mind that the authors of Scripture didn’t mince words, and if there’s a repeated imperative in the Bible, it’s because readers are to pay close attention. And here it is: “Stay alert.” Take a look at the following passages:

• “Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42).

• “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Cor. 16:13).

• “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18).

• ^“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).

• “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

Simply put, following Jesus demands focus. As Christians, there’s an expectation that we will be able to discern Jesus’ voice among all the others (John 10:4-6). At any given time, there is a chorus of voices competing for our attention. Social media updates, texts, emails, instant messaging, and breaking news alerts rule the day. None of these things are going away, so we’ve got to figure out how to manage them. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to forfeit my spiritual life on the altar of my iPhone.  I don’t have all the answers, but below is a list of resources that I’ve found helpful.

• Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport.
• Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention: and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari.
• “The Social Dilemma.” (A Netflix Documentary).

Again, I don’t pretend to have all the answers, and as far as I can tell, there’s no easy solution. I’m still trying to figure out how to stay digitally connected without forfeiting my attention span and ability to stay focused on the things that matter the most. But the first step is acknowledging that this will be an ongoing issue that needs to be managed. I’ll leave you with a quote from  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”

[1] Johhann Hari, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again. (New York: Random House, 2022, p. 20).