Eric Schmidt: Former Google CEO's Advice to Avoid Phone Distractions

Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, shared a simple yet effective tip for managing distractions from mobile phones: turn them off.

In an interview on the "Moonshots" podcast, Schmidt emphasized that the constant stream of notifications makes it impossible to concentrate, especially on tasks requiring deep thought. "You can't think deeply as a researcher with this thing buzzing," he said.

Schmidt acknowledged technology's role in the commodification of attention, as companies try to monetize the time we spend on our devices through advertising and other forms of entertainment. He admitted that Google, under his leadership, contributed to this trend.

According to research, our attention span is decreasing, partly due to technology. Psychologist Gloria Mark reports that the average attention span on a computer screen is just 47 seconds, compared to 2.5 minutes two decades ago.

Regarding relaxation apps, Schmidt argued that the best way to relax is to turn off your phone and relax in traditional ways.

Creators of meditation apps responded to Schmidt's statements, emphasizing that not all screen time is the same and that digital wellbeing is not about going back to the past, but progressing with purpose.