Studio Notes: Attention

A small interruption in an old habit.

Studio Notes

One word. One story. One small invitation to live creatively this week.

Each Monday, I choose one word as a lens for the story and ideas that follow. Sometimes it’s something I’ve been learning or noticing, sometimes it’s an idea I can’t stop thinking about. My hope is that these few minutes help you see the world a little differently and carry that perspective into the week ahead.

This Week’s Word

“Attention”

A few weeks ago, I deleted all the social media apps from my phone. I’d tried moderation and time limits before, but for me it had to be all or nothing.

I didn’t quit social media altogether; I can still check Instagram or Facebook or Pinterest from my computer if and when I want to. The difference is that it isn’t available every minute of every day.

Since taking it off my phone, I’ve logged in maybe a handful of times. I check my notifications, catch up with the handful of people I actually enjoy following, and close the browser tab. The whole thing takes less than five minutes. Most days, I don’t even think about it.

I expected to miss it, but I don’t.

And I’ve realized how many tiny moments of my day had become opportunities to scroll. Without even noticing, I’d reach for my phone - not because there was anything I needed, but simply because it was there.

Weeks later, my thumbs still navigate toward the place on my screen where Instagram used to be. It’s pure muscle memory. But now there’s nothing there, and in that moment I get to decide what happens next. It’s a tiny interruption in an old habit, and every time it happens I’m reminded that I have a choice. And I choose to look up instead.

The biggest surprise isn’t necessarily that I have more time. It’s that I have hundreds of tiny moments back. They used to disappear into scrolling without me even noticing. I hadn’t realized how much of my day belonged to someone else until it belonged to me again.

Quote

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

— Anne Lamott

For the Week Ahead

We live in a world that’s constantly asking for our attention. Every notification, headline, email, advertisement, and app is competing for a few more seconds of our day.

I don’t think creativity comes from avoiding inspiration; we all need things that fill us up. But there’s a difference between seeking inspiration and being constantly bombarded by input. If every spare minute is filled with other people’s ideas, it becomes much harder to recognize what is truly yours.

Maybe the most creative thing we can do isn’t consume more, but better protect our attention.

One More Thing…

I’m curious...what’s something you’ve enjoyed lately that you can’t stop recommending? It could be a book, a place, a podcast, a recipe, or something completely unexpected. Hit reply and tell me about it - I really do read them.

Until next week,

Emily

Looking for more? Visit emilygeleske.com for essays, original artwork, and creative inspiration.