"Every interruption forces your brain to reorient, which is metabolically expensive." - Dr Friederike Fabritius
Distraction isn’t a personal failing. It’s structural.In recent years, attention has become one of the most contested resources in modern life.
Notifications, social feeds and an always-on work culture mean the average adult switches tasks dozens of times per hour.
Neuroscientist Dr Friederike Fabritius explains:
“Focus is not about willpower. It’s about reducing friction. Every interruption forces your brain to reorient, which is metabolically expensive."
Elite sport has responded by designing environments that protect focus - phone-free meetings, reduced media exposure, and intentional recovery windows.
You don’t need an elite training centre to borrow the principle.
HOW TO PROTECT FOCUS IN DAILY LIFE
1. Batch notifications rather than reacting instantly
2. Work in time blocks, not open-ended sessions
3. Separate 'input time' (emails, socials) from 'output time'
THE BOTTOM LINE
Focus isn’t something you summon. It’s something you safeguard.
