Many students complain that they just canāt concentrate, and that minds race from one thing to another and their thoughts are all over the place - except on their studies. But almost everyone has the ability to concentrate. Think of a time when you were totally engrossed in something you really enjoyed, for example a movie, a book, a game of rugby or netball…
But the biggest gap was during work: mind-wandering is epidemic on the job. But we can take steps that will help us stay on task more of the time when we need to. 1. Manage your temptations. Many of the distractors that pull us away from what weāre working on are digital: tweets, emails, and the like. There are several apps that can wall off those temptations…
The peer review processes for promotion and tenure and for continuing appointment provide committees with whatās needed to make overall judgments about the quality of instruction. For teachers, however, peer reviews usually donāt contain the diagnostic, descriptive feedback they need to continue their growth and development in the classroom. The assessments are…
Dustin Johnson was in a typically relaxed mood on Wednesday afternoon But despite only arriving at Erin Hills on Tuesday afternoon after Paulina Gretzky gave birth to the couple s second son - named River Jones - on Monday, Johnson was in a typically relaxed mood in his pre-tournament press conference. It s been very fun the last couple of days, obviously having…
The holiday season has officially ended and while some of us are still taking down our trees and packing away ornaments, 2017 is well upon us. The break that the vast majority of marketers get at the end of the year helps us start the new year refreshed, replenished and ready to create some kickass marketing programs. This year, instead of focusing on being productive…
At Evernote, we love productivity, but we also care about maintaining balance in our lives. This month, weāre diving into how experts on minimalism stay productive without losing focus on whatās important. In part one of this series, we discovered that thereās a difference between being busy and being happy. Between work, academics, family, and personal relationships…
Thatās good to know. But if youāre 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 wonāt speak definitively for everyone, he says there are some general things most of us can do to improve our focus…
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 couldnāt sit down to work…
Iāve written about a range of habits related to learning, but one I have not yet covered is concentration ā perhaps because I find it among the hardest of habits to truly master. ā¦.or simply to become distracted by the shiny new learning objects that I encounter on a daily basis, ā¦or to start writing about one thing and find myself wandering to other topics as…
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, āI start with good intentions, but I canāt seem to maintain my consistency for a long period of time.ā Or, they will say, āI struggle with mental endurance. I get started but I canāt seem to follow through and stay focused for very long.ā…
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…
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…
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…
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, Allenās daily routine hasnāt changed one iota: He still sketches out his script ideas in freehand on a yellow legal pad…
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…
While mental exercise is important for brain health, that doesnāt 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…
The science behind concentration and improved focus Isnāt it sweet when you lose yourself in the work youāre doing? You get the rush of real productivity, not just ābusy workā. 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 itās really an exhilarating…
I often hear my clients complain of difficulty concentrating. Be it on the job, on their creative tasks, or even in their daily routines, I frequently hear them talk about difficulty keeping track of their ever-growing list of to-doās and their frantic efforts to keep themselves organized and on top of their various roles and demands. I hear them tell me about…
Attention Game: Stroop This game is a variation on the famous Stroop effect. It s a fun way to test your ability to focus while processing information. It will train you to focus, improve your concentration, and pay attention. Attention and Age As we get older the challenges associated with inattentiveness grow. Deteriorating visual attention can affect behavior…
Funny things happen when I snap my fingers. On a stage in Syracuse, a grown man fell instantly and deeply into a state of total relaxation and collapsed onto the floor. At a training event in Philadelphia, a woman became convinced she was communicating with extraterrestrials and started shouting in beeps and whistles. During a conference in Cleveland, an executive…
A wandering mind is common for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Whether youāre talking to your boss or best friend, you might easily lose track of conversations. Or get easily distracted and forget what you were working on. Or miss details and make careless mistakes. But this isnāt an oversight on your part. An inability to focus is…
In case you havenāt noticed, I write about all the stuff I suck at. And hereās my worst struggle yet: staying focused. But this discipline is a non-negotiable for a writer. Itās essential for anyone who is serious about doing great work. I donāt care if you have to trick yourself into it. If youāre going to do stuff that matters, you will need to find a way to…
They say the key to success is to simply show up every day and do what needs to be done. But showing up is the easy part. How to focus and stay on-task is the real challenge. Like an old lawn mower, it probably takes a few tries to get going. However, when you do, you enter a state of focus where you forget the world and are able to get lost in your work. Itās…
There is no shortage of distraction in life. If you re trying to focus on work, your family needs your attention. Try to focus on family, and the duties of the job get in the way. People load up with hobbies and trips and learning and aspirations and TV and Internet surfing and video games and social media. And then there are all those distractions caused by…
