Attention Please
December 2008
We've all had days, perhaps weeks, and even months when we can't seem to focus on anything.
One minute you're reading an article online, the next you're typing e-mails, and before you can send them, you're instant messaging a co-worker, checking on the stock market or jotting down notes for an upcoming meeting. The end result: It feels like nothing's getting done. The good news is there are ways to improve one's ability to pay attention. Research suggests that early child rearing may play a role. The amount of chaos in a home, and a tendency by parents to interrupt their children during play – rather than allowing them to engage deeply – can harm the development of a child's attention span or performance on cognitive tests, which require sustained attention. Ways to improve attention are many. Try meditation. Research proves that it helps us focus better. There also appears to be a relationship between exercise and attention, too. Early findings from a study indicate that regularly practising tasks that necessitate shutting out distractions can help healthy older adults improve their concentration. In other words, a crossword puzzle may be a good remedy for an ailing attention span. Another step that might help you improve your attention span is simply to get rid of the clutter. At Blanchard Schaefer, a Texas-based ad and public relations agency, employees can retreat to a 'womb room,' a plain, unwired space, to think without interruption. Try these methods and watch your attention span grow!
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