Interesting article! I find myself on my phone more than I would like to be. I do try to get out birdwatching most days for half an hour to 2 hours many days of the week. They get my full attention! I have been recently mesmerized by a very talkative Mockingbird with many different imitations. He is fun to watch as he flies straight up about 5 ft then lands on the same branch, talking the whole time.
It is hot where I am right now, so I haven't been walking much. I did take a short walk yesterday and got photos of some tiny but beautiful flowers. Little things catch my attention when most people miss them.
Not just attention, but the volume of what we create ourselves – without the help of ChatGPT or other AI tools and platforms. That kind of independent creativity matters too, and you touched on that as well.
It seems to me that, over time, people will divide into two groups: those who can’t – or don’t want to – resist the pull of technology, and those who recognise the need for self-discipline. This is already beginning to happen. In the end, we may need to talk less about which professions AI will replace, and more about which people it will quietly push aside – leaving them with little more than passive consumption. They may still work, still contribute – but only in tandem with technology.
How all of this will shape personal and private life is hard to predict…
And, interestingly, long-distance trails take on an additional, powerful value in this context. Awareness. Constant independent decision-making. A kind of digital detox.
That bit about AI affecting less the professions and more the individual is very interesting! You’re right, we have no idea how all of this will play out. But that feels like an important distinction to watch!
And long trails are the most powerful detox I’ve ever experienced! Thanks Alexander!
I think you are right on the mark. I have been traipsing around the planet now for 77 years and I can attest to the fact of being distracted even before cell phones were a thing. But, the speed at which distractions are now put in front of us makes the noise much louder for sure. That is, I assume, why the saying “slow down and smell the roses” is associated with the lifestyles of the 1950’s which well before the hectic, technologically driven lifestyles we are subjected to today.
I’ve had a similar experience that you had on the Foothills trail. It’s like it resets your brain. And then you experience dread when you return to society, knowing you’ll soon be addicted again.
I am trying to find ways to “microdose” version of this. Simply taking walks in nature without a phone (even for 20 min), meditating, etc.
Yes, exactly! How do we maintain the way of being that we experience on trail? I’ve wondered that often. Like you, I try meditation and shorter, more frequent excursions. Not quite the same, but it helps. Thanks Kevin!
This is very good and very timely. In his book “ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer’s World”, Thom Hartmann argues that during our millennia of hunter-gatherer life, it was highly adaptive to rapidly scan and move through the world to find food and avoid danger. So perhaps our evolved nature of “look at this, look at that, look over there” is being hacked by the tech platform builders and behavioral economists for profit. The only defense, as you say so well, is some diligent attention to deciding more consciously WHAT to allow into our minds (more nature, more good people/places, less bullshit). I’m pretty much going cold turkey on reading/watching any “news” these days. Sucks the soul out of me.
Keep up the good writing and photography, Erik! 👏👏
The news is a big one! I try not to give it my attention, thinking that if it’s significant enough the signal will get to me. It’s difficult to tune out when big events are happening, though. I need to work on my discipline!
And thanks for showing me the other publication, I’ll definitely check it out!
I never listen to anything on my hikes (except nature). That's a rule I made for myself. Even when I run, I don't use headphones. Not because I'm against technology but because for one, I don't want distraction from the experience, and I think people are losing their imaginations. On a long hike, so many thoughts come up, I figure things out, etc. Also as an author I am seeing the decline of reading books. If they do "read" people are listening to audio books while they do something else.
Yes, the distraction of multi-tasking, where attention is divided numerous ways! I try to avoid that, although I do listen to podcasts when I’m working out/running. Maybe I’ll try without and go full beast mode!
Interesting article! I find myself on my phone more than I would like to be. I do try to get out birdwatching most days for half an hour to 2 hours many days of the week. They get my full attention! I have been recently mesmerized by a very talkative Mockingbird with many different imitations. He is fun to watch as he flies straight up about 5 ft then lands on the same branch, talking the whole time.
It is hot where I am right now, so I haven't been walking much. I did take a short walk yesterday and got photos of some tiny but beautiful flowers. Little things catch my attention when most people miss them.
That’s great stuff! I fully believe paying attention to the world in this way is infinitely more valuable than any screen time!
Definitely agree!
To be present with oneself is divine.
Ooo, that’s a high standard but I agree!
Not just attention, but the volume of what we create ourselves – without the help of ChatGPT or other AI tools and platforms. That kind of independent creativity matters too, and you touched on that as well.
It seems to me that, over time, people will divide into two groups: those who can’t – or don’t want to – resist the pull of technology, and those who recognise the need for self-discipline. This is already beginning to happen. In the end, we may need to talk less about which professions AI will replace, and more about which people it will quietly push aside – leaving them with little more than passive consumption. They may still work, still contribute – but only in tandem with technology.
How all of this will shape personal and private life is hard to predict…
And, interestingly, long-distance trails take on an additional, powerful value in this context. Awareness. Constant independent decision-making. A kind of digital detox.
That bit about AI affecting less the professions and more the individual is very interesting! You’re right, we have no idea how all of this will play out. But that feels like an important distinction to watch!
And long trails are the most powerful detox I’ve ever experienced! Thanks Alexander!
Thank you for the essay.
I think you are right on the mark. I have been traipsing around the planet now for 77 years and I can attest to the fact of being distracted even before cell phones were a thing. But, the speed at which distractions are now put in front of us makes the noise much louder for sure. That is, I assume, why the saying “slow down and smell the roses” is associated with the lifestyles of the 1950’s which well before the hectic, technologically driven lifestyles we are subjected to today.
That’s a great aphorism to keep in mind and illustrates the trajectory of attention decline. Thanks Ron!
Another fantastic article, Erik!
I’ve had a similar experience that you had on the Foothills trail. It’s like it resets your brain. And then you experience dread when you return to society, knowing you’ll soon be addicted again.
I am trying to find ways to “microdose” version of this. Simply taking walks in nature without a phone (even for 20 min), meditating, etc.
Yes, exactly! How do we maintain the way of being that we experience on trail? I’ve wondered that often. Like you, I try meditation and shorter, more frequent excursions. Not quite the same, but it helps. Thanks Kevin!
This is very good and very timely. In his book “ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer’s World”, Thom Hartmann argues that during our millennia of hunter-gatherer life, it was highly adaptive to rapidly scan and move through the world to find food and avoid danger. So perhaps our evolved nature of “look at this, look at that, look over there” is being hacked by the tech platform builders and behavioral economists for profit. The only defense, as you say so well, is some diligent attention to deciding more consciously WHAT to allow into our minds (more nature, more good people/places, less bullshit). I’m pretty much going cold turkey on reading/watching any “news” these days. Sucks the soul out of me.
Keep up the good writing and photography, Erik! 👏👏
The news is a big one! I try not to give it my attention, thinking that if it’s significant enough the signal will get to me. It’s difficult to tune out when big events are happening, though. I need to work on my discipline!
And thanks for showing me the other publication, I’ll definitely check it out!
I never listen to anything on my hikes (except nature). That's a rule I made for myself. Even when I run, I don't use headphones. Not because I'm against technology but because for one, I don't want distraction from the experience, and I think people are losing their imaginations. On a long hike, so many thoughts come up, I figure things out, etc. Also as an author I am seeing the decline of reading books. If they do "read" people are listening to audio books while they do something else.
Yes, the distraction of multi-tasking, where attention is divided numerous ways! I try to avoid that, although I do listen to podcasts when I’m working out/running. Maybe I’ll try without and go full beast mode!
Here’s a great complement to your essay, Erik (check out Rebecca Hooper’s substack if you haven’t discovered her yet):
https://betweentwoseas.substack.com/p/the-embodied-human
What an article man. Great fight to take on indeed!
I appreciate it Kyle! It’s a difficult route, but I’m tempted to see where it leads.