We live in a world full of distractions. Our focus is constantly being shifted from one thing to another. We entertain ourselves by flipping, scrolling and swiping faster than you can read this sentence. What is the overall affect on our cognitive abilities? Our attention span is shorter than ever, so when we need it to learn something important, we have to work to bolster it. How? Well, let’s take a moment and have a look at some useful methods for improving our attention span.
1. Get rid of distractions and focus. Quite simply, disconnect. When you need to concentrate, try putting your devices on “airplane mode.” The signals passing through not only may interfere with equipment when on a plane, but the constant barrage of notifications will also interfere with your ability to focus. Along with that, why not create a distraction-free zone? Go someplace that allows you to learn undisturbed. Next, tune out your surroundings. Have you ever seen a movie, where time seems to stop for one of the characters? As he focuses on one thing, only that object or person seems to be moving. Everything else is completely still. It’s as if the rest of the world is frozen in time. That is kind of what we need to do in order to focus. We need to freeze a moment in time to concentrate on what we want to learn, and ignore everything else around us.
2. Schedule learning. Block off time for what you need to learn. As a result, you’ll be more settled and won’t worry about time or what else needs to be done. Also, within your study period, set an amount time to focus without a break. For example, study for 10 minutes, take a 2 minute breather, then get back to studying. It’s like a track runner knowing he only has a bit more to go before finishing the race. When the goal line is in sight, the determination to finish to that point is strong. When you set timed “finish lines” you will have greater motivation to push your attention span further until you reach your goal.
3. Stop multitasking. When people multitask, they actually get less done. Every time your attention is diverted to another task, you loose what’s in your short-term memory and then when you go back to your original task, your focus has to start over again. You never go deep enough into one task to absorb the information and fully grasp it. You can compare it to a scuba diver that never brings enough oxygen to reach his destination down below in the water. He keeps having to go back to the surface for air and just tires himself out from all the swimming back and forth. With your concentration, every time you “surface” to pay attention to something else, you have to “dive” back into the material you were learning. It’s a tiring process and you may never reach the depth needed to learn effectively.
4. Take a break. Our brain needs to rest from an activity in order to continue responding. Like the rest of our body, it also needs calories and oxygen to function, so have a snack and catch your breath. Get up an move around to promote blood circulation or do some stretches. Though, in order not to lose your learning momentum, try not to start another task or try to avoid distracting yourself with checking email or social media. Furthermore, make sure your break isn’t too long! It’s like taking that afternoon nap. If it’s short enough, then you will feel refreshed when you wake up, but if it’s too long, then you will be groggy and won’t feel like being productive again.
5. Reflect on what your learning. This means thinking deeply and taking the time needed to understand what you are learning. Think on how the new information connects with what you already know and consider how it can be used. If you had to teach to someone else, strategize how you would explain it. All of this can be considered reflecting or pondering on your material. It’s a great way to be absorbed in what your learning and to focus your attention for longer periods of time.
How’s it going? Are you still with me? Were you able to focus long enough to read through this short article? I tried to help by arranging the material with numbered points. Now, there’s a bonus method for you! Break down the information that you’re learning into chunks so that you can pay attention long enough to read at least one at a time or use the end of each chunk to pause on think about it. Well, I hope this article has been helpful. To get to the best value from it, try using the suggestions as soon as possible and on a regular basis. So the next time you need to learn something important, especially when using another language, bolster your attention span and you’ll see the results!
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