Birdwatching for Your Attention
Designed by BearmoreScreen-fried and can't unhook even on a break?
Come back from being screen-fried to being present. Set an intention, then take time in a park letting your attention settle onto the birds, the light and the trees until you start feeling like yourself again. Take about 45 minutes, no phone needed.
The runsheet
One intention
Intention settingTreat doing nothing as a deliberate step back from the attention economy. A single intention to be observant and present, rather than to achieve, sets the tone for this Burst.
5 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing intention setting before wildlife observation
This can work well because intention setting may help you slow down first, and wildlife observation rewards patience and attention.
Bird watching in the park
Wildlife observationOdell (who this Burst was inspired by) half-jokingly renames birdwatching birdnoticing: much of it is waiting until you hear something, and having to be patient. Being still long enough to hear one bird is the practice.
18 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing wildlife observation before open awareness
These go especially well together because open awareness flows from the mindful attention observation already requires.
Meditation using the open awareness technique
Open awarenessWhen you’re watching birds you stop thinking about yourself, yet feel a sharp awareness of yourself in relation to your surroundings. A short meditation to let all the prior good work settle in before you head back to whatever your day holds.
10 min activityTime well spent.
43m spent doing something good for yourself.
The breakdown
Burst evaluation
Wellbeing focus
About this Burst
This Burst is built around going outside and paying attention. It works as a counterweight to the attention economy, a slow reset you do on your own and without your phone.