How to Get Your Mind Concentrate

With the growing technological innovation, many will notice a pattern in their daily behavior that will leave them anxious. Currently, many people get anxious from the moment they wake up until the end of the day, as their life seems to revolve around different screens. For instance, my nervousness starts with my phone, because this is the first thing that greeted me in the morning. While in bed, I would scroll through different videos on Facebook and toggle between different applications which sometimes may cause me to forget about making or taking breakfast. Then, when it was time for work, I found myself engrossed in a different screen attached to another one. Throughout this, my smartwatch incessantly tapped and beeped, creating distractions as I tried to focus on important tasks. Yet, amidst all these devices, my phone emerged as the chief timewaster. Recognizing this, I decided to conduct an experiment: I would virtually eliminate my phone usage for a month, limiting it to a mere 30 minutes daily for essential tasks like navigation or calling my wife and mother.

During this experiment, I observed a transformation in my life. Initially, it took about a week to adapt to a lower level of stimulation. However, three intriguing developments ensued. First, my attention span expanded. While focus was not effortless, it became noticeably more manageable than before. Simultaneously, I found my mind generating more ideas, plans, and thoughts about the future. This introspective journey prompted me to explore the realm of focus, distraction, and the impact of technology. Engaging in extensive research, I pored over countless papers and sought insights from experts worldwide. My home office resembled a crime-solving setup, adorned with strings connecting various research snippets.

To comprehend the dynamics of attention spans, it is crucial to understand the interplay between technology and focus. Studies reveal that, while working on a computer, especially with a nearby phone, our attention to a single task lasts a mere 40 seconds before shifting. With platforms like Slack, this duration further reduces to 35 seconds. Contrary to common belief, the problem is not inherent distraction; rather, it is an overstimulated brain craving diversions. This overstimulation stems from our inherent desire for novelty, triggering the release of dopamine, the pleasure neurotransmitter. As a result, we seek and reward ourselves for indulging in distractions.

Intrigued by these insights, I decided to explore the impact of reducing stimulation even further. Embracing boredom, that restless state we often experience when transitioning from high to low stimulation, I challenged myself to engage in mundane activities. Reading lengthy terms and conditions, enduring long customer service holds, or counting digits of pi—all in the pursuit of a quieter mind. Miraculously, the outcomes mirrored those of my smartphone experiment. Within a week, my mind adapted to lower stimulation, fostering a more effortless focus. Simultaneously, an influx of ideas and plans manifested, facilitated by the newfound space for mental wandering.

This led me to introduce the concept of "scatter focus," a deliberate mental state where our minds wander freely, leading to enhanced creativity and problem-solving. Contrary to the notion that distractions are the enemies of focus, they are symptoms of an overstimulated mind. Therefore, I bring forth two crucial shifts in how we can perceive attention. Firstly, the need to focus on creating more space in our lives rather than succumbing to the hustle mentality. Like traffic flow, it is the space between tasks that allows us to move forward effectively. Secondly, the understanding that distraction is not the enemy of focus but a symptom of overstimulation. To facilitate this shift in perspective, I propose a two-week challenge to minimize mind stimulation consciously. By utilizing features on devices to track and limit screen time, instituting a disconnection ritual every evening, embracing boredom for short intervals, and diversifying attention, individuals can gauge the impact on their focus, creativity, and overall well-being.

In conclusion, the state of our attention significantly influences the state of our lives. By reducing overstimulation and embracing periods of calmness, we not only enhance productivity and focus but also cultivate a more fulfilling and directed existence.