Friction for focus: can slowing down sharpen attention?

An BBC health feature argues that deliberately adding everyday frictions—like using analog tools, avoiding constant notifications, or handwriting notes—could retrain our brains to focus better, as evidence links attention to the brain’s networks. While some experts warn it isn’t a universal fix and research shows mixed results for tech breaks, friction-maxxing may be a useful complement to digital self-regulation and meaningful, effortful activities.