Everyone and everything wants your attention. Along with time, attention is the most valuable resource for most of us. We need focus at work, at school, and with our families but when is the last time anyone taught you how to build focus? In this week’s blog, I’m discussing the second principle required for learning quickly: developing your focus.
Have you ever wondered how some people were able to study for hours? Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts and the ability to stay focused for a long period is a result of 1) overcoming procrastination 2) avoiding distractions and 3) understanding the type of focus required.
We are all guilty of procrastinating especially when the task at hand is hard. When I am starting a large coding project, it is daunting and that uncertainty about where to start keeps me from starting. My approach is to recognize that this problem is going to be challenging and then writing a list of the most basic steps to complete the task. For the coding task I start with 1) turn on the computer. 2) open the coding software 3) write the goal of the code 4) write each function of the code etc. I then start the task and cross off each item on my list. As I am working on the project, I add things to the list to cross off. I enjoy crossing things off which motivates me to complete the task.
It is important to recognize distractions and take steps to remove them. Early in graduate school, I hated reading journal papers. As soon as I would reach something I didn’t understand, I would go to yahoo.com to scroll. (I don’t enjoy social media so this was my vice.) After seeing the main headlines, I would try to get back to reading. After a few more pages, I would again hit a challenging part and my fingers out of habit would go to yahoo.com. It would be the exact same page as 10 minutes ago with the exact the same articles but my brain felt less tension when I saw the Yahoo! screen. You may do something similar with social media. The only solution that worked for me was blocking yahoo.com on my browser which forced me to get back to work sooner.
The type of tasks that I approach vary from simple tasks to complex ones. The complexity of the task will require a different type of focus. Sharp focus requires intense concentration for short periods of time where the task is simple such as throwing a dart. Relaxed focus requires lower concentration for long periods of time where the task is complex like writing an essay. Research shows that sharp focus tasks are better performed when your mind is highly alert such as after drinking coffee or in loud environments like a café. Relaxed focus is achieved in low alert states such as in a quiet room or after meditating. It is important to recognize the type of tasks so you can align your mind to be the most effective.
Ultimately, we are all different so the most important step to developing this skill is to self-test. It has taken me years and many failures to figure out how I work best. Your initial efforts at focus will feel like hell as you try to calm your mind, fight through the boredom, and withdraw from the distractions your brain craves. Just remember that every minute you fight is another minute closer to the goal of developing focus.
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