It seems that we have to repeat ourselves more and more in order for others to hear us. Parents tell their kids for the tenth time that it’s time to go, teachers give instructions to certain people three times in a row, and even friends have to strain to get each other’s attention from behind the screens of their phones. Why?

From an objective viewpoint, listening is one of our key survival traits. Sound can tell us when a car is coming, when the bacon is sizzling in the pan, and where to find others. Yet such an important trait seems to be fading, as we slowly seem to be more and more oblivious to the world around us.

The reason I feel that this is plausible is as such; in an age where we can access answers as quickly as we think of the question, the human mind is always working. Our brains need a break from all this work, and so it begins to limit itself, even though we keep forcing information into it.

We as a people know very little about the human brain. However, what we do know is that on average, humans use only a small amount of their minds. As a result, we are limited in what we can do. This limitation manifests itself in many ways, but the relevant example is when people try to do multiple things at once. This poses stress upon the mind as it juggles multiple tasks around, and as a result we lose some key details when put under this pressure.

Many times this internal confusion makes it hard to hear or pay attention to other things around us. This can include school work, music, and even friends. Essentially, the more distractions we have around us, the harder it is to focus on a given subject.

Heed the wisdom of a lifeguard, having 20 people to watch is far more stressful than two people. While watching people swim may not be listening to music, the less our minds have to focus on, the better it performs.

Am I suggesting we lock ourselves in a white room while doing a singular task to avoid these distractions? No, but I am suggesting that we, as a people, stop trying to do five things at once. If you want to have a serious discussion with someone, turn off the music, stow away the phones, and sit down. You’ll find that the less distractions around you there are, the easier it is to listen and remember what your friend told you about that upcoming party Friday night.