How to Focus Your Brain Like a Superhuman - d.science

Focus brain

Focus / April 7, 2021

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 these practices into place to sharpen your concentration and be more effective.

While we may immediately think of task-related issues that affect focus, our attention span happens within a bigger physiological context, Levitin says. If you’re not getting proper sleep or feeling a great deal of stress, you may find it hard to focus, even in the best circumstances. Caffeine can increase focus in some people but may undermine it in others, causing them to feel anxious or “jittery.” Understanding your own needs to feel rested and able to focus—and tending to them—is really the first step to improving your ability to hone in on what’s got your attention for longer periods of time.

When people try to meditate for the first time, it’s common for their minds to wander or for unwanted thoughts to creep in. “We call that the monkey mind”—and the same thing can happen when it’s time to focus, says Diana Raab, author of This is where keeping a journal or even a list can come in handy. Write down the thought or to-do list items that pop into your mind so you can let them go or deal with them later, she says.

Like any practice, focus happens best when you set yourself up for success, says professional development expert Benjamin Brooks, founder of PILOT, Inc., an employee coaching platform. Be sure you have the resources and materials for the job at hand and block out time to work on the task. “Be sure to turn off notifications for email and social media, ” he says. When push notifications are activated, other people are deciding where your focus goes, he adds.

It sounds simple, but in order to focus on something, you have to commit to doing it, Levitin says. Without such commitment, you’re going to be distracted by your thoughts or other demands on your time. You’ve got to decide that this is the work you’ll complete now—without multitasking—and do it.

Source: www.fastcompany.com