Map of Monotropic Experiences

Attention Tunnels

Flow

In plain words

Your attention goes deep into one thing. The rest of the world fades out. It feels good, and it helps you think. Coming back out again is hard.

Entering flow states — or attention tunnels — is a necessary coping strategy for many of us. Flow states are the pinnacle of intrinsic motivation.

Fergus Murray — in their own words

What changes this

Time that is not interrupted, and a warning before it ends. A tunnel is cheap to stay in and expensive to re-enter, so the thing an environment can give is a long uninterrupted stretch and notice before the end of it.

Where it is on the map

Area 1 of twenty, printed on the map as Attention Tunnels. It borders:

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