Neurodiary. Experiment #1: An unexpected discovery about my attention

I always considered myself a person who could focus. Many years of intellectual work (reading, researching, analyzing, writing, projects) taught me how to maintain focus. Or at least I thought so.

I recently conducted a series of neuro-sessions (during various activities) with the NeuroDive headset-encephalograph to see how my attention really works. The result was unexpected and even a little shocking to me. In almost all sessions, my attention index jumped around in the switching zone (cognitive switching), almost never reaching the level of the optimal state (optimal). Attention jumped all the time, as if the brain only turns on at the moments of switching and does not reach a stable mode. The only exceptions were breathing meditation sessions.




What does it mean

This means that today my brain "wakes up" when tasks, contexts, or stimuli change. This is a sign of a habit of fragmented attention - a consequence of living in multitasking and constantly switching between tasks. As a result, my attention is reactive, not stable: it flares up brightly, but quickly burns out.

Why is this happening?

Switching costs cognitive energy. Every time the brain "jumps" from one task to another, it uses up working memory and attention resources. This slows down speed, increases fatigue, and adds stress. Even if it seems like we can switch easily, it's actually a small "productivity tax."

Multitasking creates fragmented attention. If you live in constant switching, the brain adapts: attention becomes reactive, but does not tolerate stable conditions well. This reduces the ability to deeply immerse yourself in one task, interferes with reading texts, and maintaining a balanced emotional state.

The price of such a regime

- Each switch is energy-consuming. Fatigue comes faster than in people with more stable attention.
- Stress accumulates because the nervous system is constantly “twitching”.
- The quality of life suffers: it is more difficult to complete tasks, to immerse yourself deeply, to truly relax.

What to do about it

- Work in cycles: 25-40 minutes on a task, then a short break or a change of activity.
- Use controlled switching: consciously alternate between different formats (read -> move -> write a couple of lines).
- Train your stable focus: meditate on your breathing, read long texts without distractions (so to speak, pump up your “attention muscle”).
- Remove unnecessary noise: notifications, endless tabs, random distractions.

Why is this discovery important to me?

For years, I thought, "I can concentrate." But the experiment showed that my brain has learned to multitask, and it has become its new normal. This explains why, even when I am highly motivated, I often feel tired and fragmented.

For me, this was an unexpected discovery. And for you, it may be a reason to look at your work regime: is your attention stable or does it also jump ?