I am still thinking about focus and attention spans and boredom. I read Joel’s post: The constant need for a source of entertainment and that got me thinking even more. I loved that he starts talking about this time in his childhood with no technology around, and he wandered around the fields, playing with bottle caps and imagining they were spaceships (I also loved The Jetsons! 🙌).

He asks himself these questions:

Why would I wash the dishes without watching a video at the same time? Why would I fold my clothes without listening to a podcast too? Why would I have lunch without scrolling away on social media? Why would I go outside without carrying my phone at all times?

And then he asks:

Why would I not try, though?

To me, there are different layers to these questions:

• True multitasking (doing two cognitively demanding tasks at once) isn’t something we can actually do. We can’t read a text and listen to a podcast at the same time, these are conflicting cognitive efforts. Even when we think we are multitasking, we are not effectively processing information.
• Multitasking without cognitive conflicts: we can, however, combine two tasks that use different cognitive resources and don’t compete for the same type of attention. For example: listening to a podcast (passive audio input) while folding laundry or doing dishes.

This reminds me of the book “Deep Work” by Cal Newport, where he argues that the ability to focus intensely is a skill that must be trained. His advocates on training ourselves to be able to focus so we can better perform cognitively demanding tasks. But even if we start having distraction-free “focus” sessions every day to train ourselves, we will struggle if we can’t free our minds from a dependence on distractions.

Cal recommends training our brains to tolerate boredom. Habits like constantly checking our phones or jumping between tabs, condition us to avoid boredom and seek novelty. This damages our capacity for deep, focused work.

My concern when I see younger people constantly seeking distractions is that they completely lost their ability to have one moment, any moment in a quiet state without looking at a screen or having something in their ears. And I guess I wouldn’t be too surprised if all this multitasking were done exclusively in their leisure times. But seeing them doing that while they work, for 8 hours a day, that’s concerning.

I listen to podcasts while doing the dishes and cleaning the house. I listen to podcasts when I go to the gym (I actually use it as my incentive to go to the gym. I leave some of favorite episodes to listen while I work out). But I don’t listen to 8 hours of podcasts or watching videos on the background while I’m at work, doing cognitive efforts.

So, it’s NOT about ALWAYS doing ONE thing at a time. If we avoid pairing tasks that interfere with each other, like reading emails (language processing) with listening to a podcast (also language-heavy), we should be okay.

But also, I think Cal Newport has a point: if we are constantly in this distracted fully excited state all the time, we can’t slow down anymore, even if we want to.

I think that with the amount of instant stimulation we carry in our pockets today, it’s way harder to even realize that we are in that state. And maybe some people don’t even know how it feels like to be calm and quiet, just observing the world around them and listening to their thoughts.

And it’s a challenge for all of us; we are all being bombarded with an excess of information and entertainment. I noticed a shift in my ability to sit down and focus on reading a book a couple of years ago when I was still using the main social media apps (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). I believe that **deleting all those accounts **four years ago helped me get back to enjoy reading again and embracing boredom sometimes.

I have been curating my online consumption patterns for quite a while now, and this post summarizes a bit my feelings about feeling hacked by the online world.

Anyway, thanks Joel for sharing your thoughts!

—-

Post 86/100 of 100DaysToOffload challenge (Round 2)!

#100DaysToOffload #100Days #NoisyMusings #internet #attentionresistance

Thoughts? Discuss... if you have a Write.as account or Reply by email

By Noisy DeadlinesMinimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.

The constant need for a source of entertainment

Some thoughts about how I always want to keep my mind engaged and curious—or to keep it distracted from the real world?

^{joelchrono.xyz}

In Aalborg, Denmark, a boy curls up with a crayon on the side of a building, and in Le Mans, France, a child unzips a drab facade to reveal a burst of color. From Shanghai’s hidden alleyways to the rooftops of Grenoble, these murals by Seth Globepainter reimagine urban architecture through the lens of childhood. This collection features eight of his most poetic and site-responsive works—each one turning a blank wall into a portal of memory, play, or longing.

🔗 Follow Seth Globepainter on Instagram

More by and about Seth Globpanter!: 34 Murals That Turn Walls Into Wonders: Seth’s Street Art Will Blow Your Mind

Jack in the Box — Aalborg, Denmark

A child with closed eyes sits with knees pulled tight to the chest, drawn in large scale onto a gable end of a building. Surrounded by vivid blocks of yellow and blue, crayons scattered at his feet, the scene suggests retreat into imagination.

Unzip — Le Mans, France

A mural of a child pulling open an enormous zipper transforms the entire building facade. The gray surface is peeled back to reveal a vibrant gradient of rainbow colors behind, suggesting freedom, wonder, and hidden worlds.

Periscope — Shanghai, China

In a clever use of existing piping, a small painted child crouches and peers through a pipe formation like a submarine periscope. The art blends seamlessly into the real structure, turning utilities into imagination.

Hopscotch Girl — Paris, France

On a quiet street corner, a young girl in a red checkered dress stands at a hopscotch court, staring at a painted figure mid-jump. The painted girl has lost her shoes and seems to leap beyond the wall, capturing fleeting childhood moments.

Cat Walk — Shanghai, China

A mural of a girl with her head resting on folded arms appears framed in a red window. Her long ponytail dangles down the wall, playfully chased by the silhouette of a black cat reaching for a flower at its tip.

Eye to Eye — Fontaine, France

Two murals face each other across a street. On one wall, a girl whispers toward the other. On the opposite wall, a boy listens under a crescent moon. The murals reflect connection and imagination, using architectural space like a narrative thread.

Hang On — Grenoble, France

A girl clings to a painted tear in the building’s facade, appearing to pull back the gray surface to reveal bright blue sky. Her body swings with momentum as if caught mid-effort to uncover what lies beyond.

In My House by Box — Laon, France

A girl kneels inside a house-shaped outline, spray-painting walls onto the blank facade. Around her, simple shapes in red, yellow, and purple mimic a child’s drawing. It’s both playful and defiant—claiming space through art.

These murals don’t just decorate buildings—they redefine them. Seth Globepainter’s work invites us to see cities as living canvases where memory, play, and possibility are always within reach.

More: 6 Cute Murals By KATO: Bringing Walls to Life

Which one is your favorite?

STREET ART UTOPIA

2025-05-08 07:30:37

34 Murals That Turn Walls Into Wonders: Seth’s Street Art Will Blow Your Mind

Take a journey into the colorful world of Seth Globepainter, a French street artist who turns boring walls into amazing, dreamlike art.

Born as Julien Malland in Paris, Seth started painting graffiti in the 1990s in the city’s 20th district. Over time, he grew into a famous mural artist, using bright colors and powerful emotions to create art that speaks to people all over the world.

In this post, you’ll see 32 of Seth’s most magical murals. These artworks show how he can turn everyday buildings into unforgettable pieces of art.

---

A Creative Voyage:

Seth’s life as an artist changed in 2003 when he started a world tour. He worked with artists from different cultures and learned new ways to paint in cities around the globe. This experience led to his book “Globe Painter” (2007) and the documentary series “Les Nouveaux Explorateurs,” which was shown on Canal+. Over five years, Seth visited 15 unique places, expanding his artistic style and creativity.

During these travels, Seth developed his signature style, often focusing on themes of childhood and imagination.

---

1.

Enter the vortex – rue Jeanne d’Arc, Paris 13 with Galerie Itinerrance in Paris, France

---

2.

Viviane hesitate, La Butte aux cailles, Paris, France.

---

A World of Wonder:

Seth Globepainter’s art shows how street art can change the way we see the world. His murals bring out feelings and tell amazing stories. If you want to see more of Seth’s work, check out his official website! Feeling inspired? Share your street art photos and stories in our Facebook group “Your Street Art Utopia” and join the fun conversation!

---

3.

Periscopes – Street Art by Seth in Shanghai, China.

---

4.

Cat Walk – Street Art by Seth in Shanghai, China.

---

5.

Seth on Putins War on Ukraine in Paris, France.

---

6.

“Keep in touch” Popasna, Donbass Ukraine.

---

7.

“Telefòn” Little Haïti, Miami.

---

8.

“O marinheiro ”, Passo da Pátria, Natal, Brasil.

---

9.

In Paris, France.

---

10.

“Little Thor” in Neuf-Brisach, France.

---

11.

The gardeners – At Nicklaus children’s hospital in Miami, USA

---

12.

---

13.

3 masks – Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea.

---

14.

“Jack in the box” in Aalborg, Denmark

---

15.

In a lane near Yu garden, Shanghai, China.

---

16

Collaboration with Korean painter Heo Dal Yong in Hae Dong, Damyang, South Korea.

---

17.

In Paris, France.

---

18.

Camsize and friend, Ravine-Sèche, Haïti.

---

19.

In Paris, France.

---

20.

---

21.

In Paris, France.

---

22.

In Paris, France

---

23.

---

24.

“The wire” in Fontaine, France.

---

25.

Lala can fly too, – Butte aux cailles, Paris, France.

---

26.

Jaho on his doorstep, Butte aux cailles, Paris, France.

---

27.

With Saner Edgar in Coyoacàn, Ciudad Mexico.

---

28.

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

---

29.

Little Putu meets her new friend, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia.

---

30.

Wendy at the window – Jersey City, USA.

---

31.

Dirty Hands – With the kids of Passo da Pátria, Natal, Brasil.

---

32.

Escada – Collaboration with DERLON in Obrigado Irmão. São Paulo, Brazil.

---

33.

“The ladder ”, tribute to the artist Bilal Berreni, known by the pseudonym Zoo Project died in July 2013 at the age of 23. His name is given to a place in the district of Saint-Blaise in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, the same place where he grew up and where this mural is painted.

---

34.

“Hang on” for Street Art Fest Grenoble Alpes in Grenoble, France.

---

Which one is your favorite?

5 pics: Street Artist Seth on Putins War on Ukraine (in Paris) - STREET ART UTOPIA

Street Artist Seth By Seth Globepainter in Paris, France. We like this comment by SummerBoss: Ukrainians are fighting for their country, for their homes and for their families.

^{Vidar (Street Art Utopia)}