Fighting Against Zoning Out with Old School Strategies – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter
some-people-talk-in-their-sleep.-lecturers-talk-while-other-people-sleep.-albert-camus.

I am a total failure—when consuming podcasts or taking part in virtual conference calls. I have good intentions. But ten to fifteen minutes into the audio program, I discover I have zoned out. My mind has wandered. I don’t have a clue what the last individual said, and I pray the presenter won’t ask me a probing question. If it is a recording, I rewind only to experience the phenomenon happen again. I never noticed zoning out during in-person meetings.

It made me wonder if it was the host’s delivery, their cadence, or the sound of their voice? Perhaps it was the subject? I researched the art of active listening and studied the meditation trick of returning my focus to the call. After some experimentation, I discovered similar mental inattentiveness with podcasts, audiobooks, and online meetings. Music and movies also have this effect, though to a lesser extent. Maybe it is my learning style. Visual information engages my attention, and I remember the facts better than if I hear them.

As the listener, it is a miserable struggle that leaves me with intense feelings of wasted time. My solution is taking detailed notes. The process reminds me of college lecture halls without the final exam. My professors delivered talks with the express intent of delivering specific material within a structured setting. Many work calls do not fit those criteria. It is a change, a challenge, and I am working to adapt.

How do you best consume content?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

11 thoughts on “Fighting Against Zoning Out with Old School Strategies – Daily Quote”

  1. I never liked audiobooks when I tried them while driving to work. They never sound the way I read them in my head. I zone out during podcasts and webinars – I am waiting for recordings to come up on one I really wanted to watch yesterday, but I missed a good bit of it. I get called away for some minor thing and forget I’m watching.
    I zone out when reading sometimes as well but at least I can start the page again.
    Maybe I need to sleep longer…
    But, back in the sixties, whenever I was taken to a Jame Bond movie I fell asleep in it. I tend to doze off when they are on TV too. Maybe it’s just me.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Cathy you are not alone. The only way I can “watch” a movie is if I have something to keep my hands busy. Crochet work or some other sewing project helps. And note taking has been helping with the webinars and podcasts.

      I laughed about you wondering away from you webinar yesterday. I think I may have done that a time or two. 😊 But I don’t feel sleepy, just bored, maybe?

      I bet someone, somewhere is doing a study on why we can’t concentrate on the audio formats, as we speak 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    • Isn’t it strange? Maybe meetings should happen in 15 minute chunks to remind us that we are supposed to be paying attention. 😄 Active listening is hard work, and you are right … too many other things on my mind are competing for my attention.

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