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Research confirms P. Lorenz‑Spreen, B. Mørch Mønsted, et al. Accelerating dynamics of collective attention / Nature Communications that every year our concentration of attention decreases. This affects both professional and personal life. Fortunately, you can detect the problem in time and solve it with a few simple steps.
It is not difficult to determine the level of concentration of attention. On the Internet, you can find several tests at once, for example in English or in Russian. You can also use Schulte tables — they are usually used to develop speed reading skills, counting and improving memory, but they are also suitable for our purpose.
Problems with concentration of attention can be indicated by the following signs:
Unfortunately, there is no quick way. But there are several techniques that can help with regular practice.
If you've never done this before, start with the basics, such as the "5-4-3-2-1" exercise. The numbers in its name mean the following:
Try to fix the perception of the situation around you more often, take time to study the work or home space. Such a small workout will make you much more attentive.
This means not only consciously making an effort to hear what your interlocutor is saying. It is important to spend time and mental energy on the "internal processing" of the information received. This approach also helps to pump mindfulness.
It sounds strange, but conscious breaks really improve concentration. Take a break from business, leave the office, take a walk around the office, pour yourself a coffee or breathe fresh air for 5-10 minutes. When you return to your place, it will be easier for you to keep your focus on tasks and your productivity will significantly increase.
In addition, conscious breaks relieve the guilt that inevitably arises during spontaneous pauses when we scroll through the news or sit in TikTok instead of working.
