Ever since I have uninstalled youtube I have watched considerably less videos, I started reading more and am slowly regaining concentration.

Today I spent multiple hours reading various texts on graphics drivers, as I am trying to learn how to use the Vulkan graphics API using C/C++. During this reading, I noticed that I had much more patience to digest the ideas and concepts detailed in the texts in front of me. The same thing was true when I was reading a textbook on control theory. I actually did not feel as overwhelmed as I normally did. I is a much repeated piece of common wisdom, that animated and primarily entertainment focused media is 'bad for the brain'. I initially saw this kind of 'folk wisdom' with a healthy dose of skepticism, as the same thing was said about newspapers and television. I do think that my recent abstinence from most of video media has allowed me to gain more patience for myself while reading. I think I have gotten better at holding thoughts in my head and working through tougher problems in my head. I feel like I am able to keep more complex problems in my head, and I don't get exhausted quite as easily.

However good that is for me right now, I am a bit worried about what this piece of 'folk wisdom' possibly being true means for our world. This ties in to my feeling that things have gotten more stressed over all. Stress already reduces my capacity to focus and process information, so when that compounds with the learned habits of video/clip based media consumption that does not seem to bode well for our collective ability to deal with more complex problems .....

Anyway, for now I am very happy about my 'new found' abilities. Happy reading everyone