The Power of Focus

The arrival of the smartphone has meant that we can have the Internet with us day and night, wherever we go: something that is hard to say no to. There’s a lot of interesting stuff out there, plus a whole lot more that’s quite dull but is still capable of owning our brains through smartphone addiction.

We’re hard-wired to be susceptible to the ‘quick fix’ that a tag, like or retweet can provide with phone distraction. But the pleasure is fleeting. Richer, deeper rewards have to be worked for, and that requires long term focus.

Punkt. spoke to a group of people who are known for getting things done, despite living in the Age of Distraction.

Petter Neby

Boredom is essential for creativity

Petter Neby, Founder & CEO of Punkt., is a Norwegian technology entrepreneur. Innovation and creativity have led him to found and manage successful businesses in the telecommunications, enterprise software and website creation.

Sherry Turkle

The capacity for solitude is at the heart of our capacity for intimacy

Sherry Turkle is an MIT professor, with expertise in culture and therapy, mobile technology, social networking and sociable robotics. Her books include the NYT bestseller Reclaiming Conversation.

Katrina Pavlos

I tell my kids to “drop their weapons” (as I refer to their iPhones)

Katrina Pavlos is the founder of Grand Classics: a global event series whereby renowned actors, directors, musicians, artists and designers screen films that inspire them.

Tanya Goodin

More and more I meet members of Gen Z who also want to use screens less

Tanya Goodin launched one of the first digital businesses in the UK and was a pioneer in the digital revolution; her focus is on how to ensure we continue to use the digital world for good.

Martha Fiennes

I tend to believe in the intelligence of the human race

Martha Fiennes is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and artist. Her multi-layered work is increasingly informed by technological developments and ideas in contemporary art practice, while remaining resolutely the creative expression of a highly gifted filmmaker and artist.

Lady Kinvara Balfour

I was less distracted, and more present in the moment before I had a smartphone

Lady Kinvara Balfour is a director of films and tech start-ups, a writer, producer and public speaker. Her work spans the worlds of tech, fashion, film and the zeitgeist.

Cindy Gallop

I make active efforts to focus and to ensure distraction-free time

Cindy Gallop has spent 34 years working in advertising, 16 of them for ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty; in 2003 she was named Advertising Woman of the Year. She is the founder of IfWeRanTheWorld.com and of makelovenotporn.com.

Marcus du Sautoy

Sometimes distraction can be an important part of the creative process

Marcus du Sautoy is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He is the author of six books, including most recently The Creativity Code.