At Evernote, we love productivity, but we also care about maintaining balance in our lives. This month, we’re diving into how experts on minimalism stay productive without losing focus on what’s important. In part one of this series, we discovered that there’s a difference between being busy and being happy. Between work, academics, family, and personal relationships…
That’s good to know. But if you’re a chronic multitasker who finds it hard to focus, is there any hope of getting your attention span back? While neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, psychology professor at McGill University in Montreal and author of won’t speak definitively for everyone, he says there are some general things most of us can do to improve our focus. Put…
I confess to being as prone to the distractions of the Internet as anyone else: I will start reading about something that interests me and disappear down the rabbit hole for hours (even days) at a time. But my ability to focus on a single task has dramatically improved, and that one habit has changed my life. While a few years ago I couldn’t sit down to work on something…
I’ve written about a range of habits related to learning, but one I have not yet covered is concentration – perhaps because I find it among the hardest of habits to truly master. ….or simply to become distracted by the shiny new learning objects that I encounter on a daily basis, …or to start writing about one thing and find myself wandering to other topics as new…
We all have goals and dreams, but it can be difficult to stick with them. Each week, I hear from people who say things like, “I start with good intentions, but I can’t seem to maintain my consistency for a long period of time.” Or, they will say, “I struggle with mental endurance. I get started but I can’t seem to follow through and stay focused for very long.” Don’t…
data-attribution= contenteditable= false > In an interview with Bustle over email, motivational trainer (plus business and life coach) Karen Strunks says, Many people think money alone will be enough to motivate them, and whilst that may do so initially, it s very hard to sustain financial motivation if the work you are doing actually drags. If you do that…
Many of the goals you will set in life will take some time to achieve. If you want to achieve them in the most effective manner, you must learn to make the most of each day. To make the most of each day, you must learn to stay focused throughout the day. Your ability to focus has a great influence on your ability to manage your time effectively. As there are so many…
Sub-vocalisation is the least of your reading problem. The biggest problem is that you are not physically engaged and intellectually stimulated when you are reading, probably resulting from not knowing/using efficient and effective reading strategies of fast and versatile readers. I like to share my reading ritual with you, based on my experience as a fast and versatile…
Photo: Columbia Pictures/Getty Images Woody Allen has never sent an email. He does not own a computer. (He admits to owning an iPhone, but only for making calls and listening to jazz while traveling.) After over 50 years in the film business, Allen’s daily routine hasn’t changed one iota: He still sketches out his script ideas in freehand on a yellow legal pad. And…
Concentration, or the ability to focus on a task at hand while blocking out distracting stimuli or thoughts, is one of our most powerful mental tools. When at optimal levels, concentration helps make our work flow easier, retain information better, and complete tasks in appropriate amounts of time. It can become difficult to focus our attention and proper amount of…
While mental exercise is important for brain health, that doesn’t mean you never need to break a sweat. Physical exercise helps your brain stay sharp. It increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise also enhances the effects of helpful brain chemicals and reduces stress…
The science behind concentration and improved focus Isn’t it sweet when you lose yourself in the work you’re doing? You get the rush of real productivity, not just ‘busy work’. You have a strong feeling of purpose and completely lose track of time. Whether you call it concentration, focus, flow, or even work-induced trance, you have to admit it’s really an exhilarating…
