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> stimulatory addiction

This really seems to be it, for me. There's a "high" that comes with being productive. Multitasking lets you trick your brain into thinking its being productive, giving you the high without actually doing the work.

> What is really concerning is when I am watching something I actually want to pay full attention to on YouTube/Netflix, and I find myself opening a fresh tab to load up a second video before catching myself and realising it's ridiculous listening to two videos at once talking over each other.

This is so relatable. A lot of times I open up a window to get started on a project, and within 5 minutes I've absentmindedly opened youtube/reddit/discord/hn/wikipedia and started my way into a wormhole that will take at least an hour to get out of.

> flow state

This terminology means you are completely focused on the task you're doing, forgetting other distractions. I don't think it applies here.

This. Multitasking certainly prevents you from getting there.

I was kind of playing in a flow state in PoE so it didn't need my full attention.

That's not a flow state. That's autopilot.

Yeah, this is correct. I don't think flow applies if attention is divided.

Very cool that you accepted the feedback. Not easy to do, so take a moment to honor yourself for that.

I agree, but wow it's a sad indication of where we are that this is notable.

That speed button is forcing async communication and having the ideas written out, or if they really insist, a presentation (with a transcription or at least the slide notes).

Many of the offending meetings start with "let's jump on a call to nut it out" so unfortunately it's always a waffle in those cases without much useful prep work, but it's hard to say no because sometimes it really is the best course. I think we have a few people with a deficit of human interaction over the last year, doing their best to make up for lost time.

>Putting the speed up to 1.75x or so helps with this if it suits the topic. In fact that was one habit I built during COVID, and going from YouTube videos at 1.75x to voice meetings with slow-talkers back in the office I found myself reaching for a speed button that didn't exist.

I literally listen to nearly all the content I watch on 3x speed, faster if it's not difficult to understand. I have literally found myself reaching for a nonexistent speedup button on a nearly daily basis it's very maladapted.

If this behaviour is problematic for you, it might not be a bad idea to get yourself tested for ADHD.

Even more so for @andrewstuart his son. I can only imagine what I could have achieved with early diagnosis and treatment.

Yeah, I've considered it but the last year meant I pretty much avoided leaving the house. Maybe it's time to look at it again. My sister and mum (in her 60s) got diagnosed recently.