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Staring at walls to improve focus and productivity | Alex Selimov https://www.alexselimov.com/posts/men_who_stare_at_walls/ The author describes a routine to improve focus and productivity inspired by Simple Lucas, involving avoiding screens during work and staring at a wall to recover focus when mentally drained. The core problem addressed is information overload, with a 2012 paper suggesting the average person received 34 GB of information daily in 2008, a figure likely much higher today. Information overload can lead to cycles of poor sleep, caffeine reliance, difficulty focusing, and increased media consumption, creating a dopamine-driven loop. The author experiences 'brain fog' and a significant drop in motivation and productivity around 1-2 pm daily. The proposed solution is to disconnect from distractions, but the primary challenge is overcoming mental fatigue. Staring at a wall, as suggested by Simple Lucas, was found to be an effective method for regaining focus. The technique involves staring at a wall out-of-focus, using peripheral vision to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and attempting to 'mind blank' (think of nothing). Initial attempts at wall staring were surprisingly difficult, comparable to the initial difficulty of starting a workout routine. The author reports significant improvements in focus and productivity after incorporating this routine. The author plans to continue this routine and share future updates on its long-term impact.

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