The
rapid march of technology in our times is truly remarkable, and shows no sign
of abetting. Smart phones exemplify this trend: over the past decade they have
become as ubiquitous as credit cards—even the majority of schoolchildren in our
society seem to own one. In fact, the presence of smart phones in our lives has
become so prominent, that many of us strain to recall how we managed to
function with landlines and dial-up internet just fifteen years ago.
While
the advantages of this development are clear—extraordinary connectivity with
the people in our lives, and an unprecedented repository of knowledge at our
fingertips—the pitfalls are less frequently acknowledged. (Leave aside, for the
moment, the capacity for governments to track their citizens’ movements and
communications as never before.) A growing body of research suggests that one pernicious effect of the
newfangled gadgets has been a diminution of the average person’s attention
span. In other words, as the number of visual and auditory stimuli in our
environment increases, our ability to concentrate on one single element of our
surroundings tends to suffer. This can put a serious damper on both our
productivity, and our ability to think deeply about things.
To
enhance and regain your concentration, try the following:
Remove clutter and
distractions. If you face an important task that
you anticipate will require your undivided attention for an extended period of
time, remove as many of the unneeded stimuli from your environment as
possible—particularly those which tend to distract you. Switch off your phone
temporarily, close unnecessary windows on your computer desktop, and remove
superfluous items from your workspace. This requires a bit of discipline, but
the effort is usually worth it.
Ambient sound. This is not a recommendation that necessarily applies to everyone.
Some people are best able to concentrate in silence, others find that a bit of
music or bustle (as in a coffee shop) actually enhances their productivity.
Go for a walk, jog, or
bike ride. A bit of light exercise in advance to
tackling a demanding task will facilitate the flow of oxygen to your brain, and
induce the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine—both of
which will, among other benefits, help you concentrate. A brief stroll has the
added advantage of giving you time to collect your thoughts, and temporarily
remove yourself from sources of stress in your work environment.
Make time for sleep. It may seem obvious, but too many people with demanding schedules
tend to sacrifice sleep on the altar of progress. Now that the aforementioned
smart phones have afforded us the ability to communicate with each other
anywhere, anytime, and through a variety of channels, the temptation to forgo
sleep is particularly acute. However, remember that fatigue will invariably
detract from your productivity the following day—while a chronic lack of sleep
can have detrimental effects on your health, quality of life, and career
longevity. Set firm ground rules for yourself and your co-workers: if they
e-mail you at 1:45 a.m., they shouldn’t expect a reply before morning.
Keep healthy snacks on
hand. The contribution of proper nourishment to
your ability to concentrate is significant. Fruit, granola bars, yogourt, and
nuts are preferable to sugary items like doughnuts, candies, and milk
chocolate. Eschew sugary drinks like pop and from-concentrate juices, and aim
to limit your coffee/caffeine consumption to no more than a cup or two per day.
(See Make time for sleep, above.)
Less caffeine generally translates into fewer trips to the bathroom and more
time for productive effort.
