6 hacks to improve attention span
Our attention span is now shorter than a goldfish so we here are six helpful tips.
Last updated 1st Feb 2017
Our attention span is now shorter than a goldfish's according to a study by Microsoft.
We can only concentrate for eight seconds, one second less than our fishy friends.
We love swiping through pictures on social media, flicking through channels on TV, texting friends about last night, taking selfies, maybe even all at the same time!
However there are times when we really, really have to get some work done and for those times we have provided some life hacks to help you focus.
We turned our mobile phones, tablets, televisions and MP3 players off to compile this list for you… 1. Exercise Not only does exercise make you look and feel great but it can also boost your concentration. A cleverly-timed workout before you hit the office can help you focus throughout the day, releasing chemicals that affect learning and memory in your brain.
2. Keep track of time If you’re not sure how many hours you spend online, keep a record of your usage. There are a number of apps you can download for your laptop which run silently in the background, monitoring how long you spend on each website and providing you with a detailed report.
3. Give yourself time to daydream Staring into space and dreaming about your holidays can actually help. Set aside specific time to let your mind wander., after all you can’t concentrate ALL the time. However, don’t forget to start work again!
4. Make a fun to-do list Imagine how much easier working through your tasks would be if it was more enjoyable? You can now turn your dull list into a virtual game, where you gain points and progress to another level with each task. This is one for the competitive types.
5. Block social media
It can be really tempting to take a quick scroll of your timeline on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on. However, if photos from your best friend’s cousin’s birthday are too appealing to pass up on, you need to stop yourself. Luckily there are a number of apps which can do this for you, just don't forget to turn it back on again so you don't miss all those important messages from your friends!
6. Work in short bursts It’s impossible to work at full concentration all of the time, so work in short, sharp bursts and take breaks in between each session of work.