You probably think it’s harder to focus in the digital age.
Screens are everywhere and social media platforms have perfected algorithms to keep us scrolling for hours.
But is there any truth behind the popular myth that technology is shortening our attention spans?
And if there are negative consequences from our increased attachment to technology, what can an ancient form of papercrafting do about it?
Attention span studies unreliable
The theory goes that in the age of highly optimised social media platforms, our attention spans are shrinking.
Over the past decade, numerous studies have cast doubt on whether that’s true. Part of the problem is that there is no agreed scientific measure of what counts as an attention span.
Origami can be done anywhere as long as you have a piece of paper. I often fold origami on the train to work in the morning.
Samuel Tsiang, The Book of Mindful Origami
If attention spans were shrinking, we’d need an objective measure to say this with confidence. For instance, perhaps we’d expect to see a significant increase in the diagnoses of related disorders, such as ADHD.
But while ADHD diagnoses have been rising, up from 6.2% to 10.2% of the US population in just ten years, the evidence doesn’t suggest this is caused by our attachment to screens.
Weirdly, our use of social media might even be beneficial.
Diagnoses of ADHD on the rise, but it’s not what you think
Although ADHD diagnoses have increased, especially since 2020, recent research has concluded this has more to do with improving awareness and understanding of the condition.
Research published by The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association actually credits the wider use of social media as a catalyst for spreading awareness. It explicitly rejects the idea social media usage is a direct cause of the condition.
What is true, however, is that even if attention spans aren’t getting measurably worse, we’re all feeling more digitally distracted nowadays.
We live in the age of the internet, the iPad child... But give them an origami flapping bird and see their face light up.
Samuel Tsiang, The Book of Mindful Origami
According to a study by King’s College London, 49% of UK adults across age groups believed they were more distracted than ever in 2021 due to technology.
That pervasive sense of anxiety is the root of significant tech-related stress.
Digital distraction anxiety is increasingly common
In 2019, a report found that US smartphone users typically unlocked their devices between 20 to 80 times a day the year before, with the Silent Generation at the lowest frequency and Gen Z users at the top.
Escaping digital distractions with focused, practical tasks is one way of breaking the habit of opening a phone.
Origami is one of the better solutions for a few standout reasons.
Why origami? The renaissance of ancient Japanese papercrafting
Origami offers an opportunity to unplug and create something elegant and simple in a manageable time frame.
Letting go of perfection is a central tenet of both mindfulness and origami, which makes the craft uniquely positioned to promote a sense of calm and relaxation.
I tell my students that despite having folded hundreds of thousands of cranes my models are still not perfect… we are human, not machines.
Samuel Tsiang, The Book of Mindful Origami
It’s also easy to pick up as most people have access to paper, which is all you’ll need for the simpler patterns that build confidence.
Which origami patterns are best at finding zen?
Basic origami patterns are ideal for learning the main folding techniques to make something beautiful relatively quickly.
Once you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, you can check out more challenging patterns, such as the legendary origami dragon on Gathered.
But if you’re planning on tackling a challenging pattern like that, we’d recommend investing in specialist origami paper so you can finish the folds with ease.
Ancient solutions to modern problems with basic origami
Social media platforms aren’t going anywhere, so it’s important to find accessible ways to disconnect. For us at Gathered, we find the best way to do this is by embracing activities that are easy to pick up.
With a sheet of paper and free guides online, origami can help everyone take a quick lunch break from scrolling social feeds to rediscover their zen.
Rediscover your zen with free, easy origami patterns on Gathered
If you’re looking to try your hand at fun folding, you can access detailed guides and ideas for free with Gathered.
Check out our picks for the best easy origami patterns and get started now!
