#MentalHealthMonday - Attention Is The New Currency

Welcome to The Meredith Patterson Podcast, where we explore how to live with more intention, more creativity, and more joy—especially in a world that often feels designed to distract us.

And I want to start by asking you something that might stop you in your tracks…

When was the last time you truly paid attention?

I mean, deep, undistracted, fully present attention—to someone speaking, to something you're watching, or even to your own thoughts?

The truth is, we are living in a world that is starving for our attention. And at the same time, we are hemorrhaging it.

 

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The Shrinking Attention Span

Let’s start with the facts.

Studies have shown that our attention spans have been shrinking for years. Some researchers say it’s now shorter than a goldfish’s—hovering at around 8 seconds. Whether that stat is 100% accurate or not, the trend is real. We are losing the ability to focus deeply.

Why?

Because we’re overstimulated. Notifications, emails, breaking news, TikToks, reels, scroll-scroll-scroll… Our brains are now wired to crave the next thing. The quicker the dopamine hit, the better.

But here’s the dangerous twist:
Attention is now currency.
Platforms profit from how long they can keep our eyes glued to the screen. They compete for our focus like bidders at an auction. The more attention they get from you, the more money they make.

And we’re the product. Not the consumer.

 

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The Overload of Choice

Let’s talk about decision fatigue.

We used to have four TV channels. Now we have 400 streaming platforms, thousands of shows, and an endless scroll of user-generated content. Ironically, the more choices we have, the harder it is to choose—and the less satisfied we are when we do.

Have you ever spent 45 minutes looking for something to watch, only to end up rewatching an old sitcom or falling asleep?
That’s not laziness. That’s cognitive overload.

Our brains weren’t built to make hundreds of micro-decisions about what to watch, who to follow, or what filter to use. And all of this choice chips away at our ability to focus, commit, and stay present.

 

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ADD, ADHD & the New Attention Economy

There’s been a significant uptick in ADD and ADHD diagnoses, especially in adults—and particularly among women over 35.

Why now?

Because the world has become noisier. Faster. Less forgiving.
And for those of us whose brains already crave novelty or struggle with focus, this world is like gasoline on a fire.

Now, I want to say this clearly:
ADD and ADHD are real neurodivergent conditions. But our modern environment is creating symptoms in nearly everyone. It’s no longer just about attention disorders. It’s about an attention crisis.

 

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Social Media & Screen Addiction

We are addicted to the scroll.

It’s not just a bad habit—it’s a chemical dependency. Every like, every notification, every viral video gives us a hit of dopamine. That “feel good” hormone. And over time, we build up a tolerance.

So we keep scrolling for the next hit.
And it’s designed that way. The infinite scroll wasn’t an accident—it was an invention meant to keep you on the platform just a little longer. And a little longer. And a little longer...

Here’s the catch:
When we trade our attention for digital dopamine, we rob ourselves of deeper joy.
We stop being present with our kids. We stop hearing our own inner voice.
We numb out.

 

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So What Can We Do?

This isn’t about deleting your social media or throwing your phone into a lake—although some days that does sound tempting.
It’s about intentional attention.

Here are five small shifts that can create big change:

1. Start your day without your phone. Even 10–15 minutes can change your mindset for the whole day.

2. Use “Do Not Disturb” mode. Your attention is precious. Protect it like your bank account.

3. Watch one thing at a time. No more multitasking shows, texts, and Instagram.

4. Reclaim boredom. Let your brain get bored. That’s where creativity is born.

5. Practice presence. Whether it’s your child, your partner, your craft—give it your full attention. That’s how we build connection.

 

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We are living in a world where our attention is being pulled, poked, and auctioned off every minute.
But you have more power than you think.
When you decide where to place your attention, you take your power back.
And when you do it with intention, you become richer—in clarity, in peace, and in purpose.

Because attention is the new currency…
And how you spend it will shape the life you live.

(Pause)

If this episode resonated with you, I invite you to take one action today:
Put your phone down and look someone you love in the eye.
Be fully there. No distractions. Just presence.
That’s the real flex in today’s world.

Thank you for listening to The Meredith Patterson Podcast.
Subscribe, share, and if you loved this episode—leave a review.
Let’s build a more intentional life together, one moment at a time.

Until next time—
Stay present, stay powerful, and keep dreaming big.