Members attentkon the Improved focus and attention group were able to stay on task longer, switched Improved focus and attention tasks less frequently, and Effective long-term weight management the work more efficiently than ad other ans of participants. Spend time in nature. Researchers looking for ways to help people overcome these challenges have suggested the following tips :. Talent Management. Approaches to Improve Attention Span Meditation is one answer to the question of how to increase attention span, but there are a number of approaches to consider. Try These 10 Tips.

Improved focus and attention -

View all blog posts under Articles View all blog posts under Online Healthcare MBA. No matter your line of work, a short attention span can be deeply problematic.

Imagine a situation in which your boss is outlining expectations for a new project, and your mind is wandering the whole time, causing you to miss key information and potentially underperform.

Or, imagine a meeting with a client or customer in which you have a hard time focusing on the conversation at hand, preventing you from delivering personalized results. Such episodes are far from unlikely, especially with studies showing us that the human attention span has fallen from 12 seconds to eight seconds just since the year Even if your job is mostly solitary and involves solo work at a computer, a short attention span may prevent you from being as efficient, as productive or as judicious with your time as you could be.

Short attention spans are often associated with children, but the reality is that many working professionals suffer from attention deficits. A number of physical and mental health issues can contribute to abbreviated attention spans, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and conditions such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.

Practicing meditation can yield many mental health benefits. One such benefit is an increased attention span. Researchers have long confirmed the attention-boosting value of meditation. Brief meditation sessions can have a demonstrable effect on improving attention spans.

Just as a session with free weights can help develop and tone muscles, a brief meditation session trains the mind to stay at attention by building resilience and discipline. For those who have never meditated before, it may seem a little strange.

Where to begin? A good place to start is by taking a moment for meditation before tackling any new task. Close your eyes, slow your breathing, and count your breaths. Simply concentrate on your breath going in and out, your lungs contracting and expanding.

Even three or four minutes of this can prepare your attention for the task at hand. An alternative is to let your senses guide you. Take a few moments to be still and to focus on sensory input all around you. What do you hear? What do you feel? Finally, look for ways to fold small acts of meditative awareness into your day.

This is a form of meditation you can practice almost anywhere. As you look for more guidance on how to increase attention span through meditation, consider these resources. Meditation is one answer to the question of how to increase attention span, but there are a number of approaches to consider.

One way you can stretch and hone your attention span is to practice active, attentive listening. The results may be evident in your improved ability to listen to your boss, clients or coworkers.

Develop a routine of 20 to 30 minutes of reading during your lunch break, before work or before bed. As you read, block out distractions such as phone notifications. Or, try reading the same paragraph a few times in a row, searching for nuances or new observations.

One other way to increase your attention span is to get moderate levels of exercise. Physical activity has been proven to improve cognitive control, and there are a number of ways to pursue this kind of exercise:. As you seek additional avenues for improving your attention span, consider these digital resources.

Regular activity and physical exertion can help boost your attention span, but so can periods of focused rest. In this section, we outline how to increase attention span through mindfulness, visualization and breaks. Mindfulness refers to basic, intentional focus on the present moment.

It can be a powerful tool in training your mind to settle on the immediate tasks at hand. Visualization, also called guided imagery, applies mindfulness principles in a slightly different context. Instead of focusing on your actual surroundings, spend time thinking about an imagined environment.

For example, sit and imagine the sights, sounds, and sensations of an isolated beach, a favorite spot in the mountains, or your childhood home. Again, you might think about these attention-boosting exercises just as you would physical exercise.

And, just as the body needs some periods of rest and recovery, your mind can also use breaks, which allow it to regain strength, clarity, and focus.

Have breaks structured into each workday, giving you the opportunity to put your attention span to rest. There are a number of ways you can schedule breaks, such as using the rule for each hour of your workday, be diligent for 50 minutes, then give yourself a minute break.

These attributes vary from person to person, with some having longer attention spans than others. A noisy office can further decrease your ability to concentrate. An increased attention span could be your key to unlocking further efficiency at work.

When that happens, apply yourself to demanding tasks without letting outside distractions hinder your performance and keep working for longer periods. If you have immense trouble concentrating or a declining attention spa n , it might indicate a more serious underlying cause.

You might consider investigating the root cause if you struggle to keep alert during meetings or become easily distracted while working on a challenging task. Below are some common causes of a short attention span and how they affect concentration.

People typically receive an ADHD diagnosis during childhood and experience symptoms after becoming adults. Symptoms of ADHD include difficulty paying attention, issues with time management, agitation, and more. Adults with ADHD may frequently switch employers or have recurring communication issues.

Not only does depression negatively impact your sense of well-being, but it hinders your ability to concentrate.

People experiencing depression might feel sad or hopeless, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, or have trouble falling asleep. Speaking to a doctor or mental health professional can help you manage these symptoms and feel like yourself again. When someone experiences a head injury, one of the most familiar symptoms is a decreased ability to pay attention.

Head injuries consist of all categories of injuries to the skull, scalp, head, or brain. They could result from trauma, seizures, and more and cause headaches, nausea, brain fog , or memory loss, among other symptoms.

A learning disability is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting learning abilities in areas like math or reading. Though many types of learning disabilities exist, the most common are dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.

People experiencing these disorders may have symptoms like decreased skills in reading and writing, an inability to follow instructions, or a tendency to become distracted, in that order.

Being dehydrated for only two hours leads to trouble focusing and processing information. Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD is a class of neurodevelopmental disorders that lead to social, communication, and behavioral difficulties. Those diagnosed with ASD may struggle to convey feelings, relate to others, repeat certain behaviors, or have a fear of people touching them.

But if no amount of physical wellness improves your focus, it might be time to check for a deeper cause. It also improves your overall performance and effectiveness in the workplace.

Here are some additional benefits of increasing attention span. Being able to focus for extended periods of time helps you work smarter, not harder. Sustained attention during working hours helps you cover more ground and stay ahead of the curve. Following strategies to increase focus and improve your attention span helps you devote your mental resources to the task at hand and improves your performance.

No matter the activity, concentration and attention are key to effectiveness. Part of that means achieving a flow state , referring to the ability to fully immerse yourself in a task.

It demands that the difficulty of your task only slightly exceeds your ability. And if your job is too hard, motivating yourself to do the impossible makes it hard to focus. A greater attention span will help you find the right level of difficulty to best focus.

When you have an increased attention span, you have an increased capacity to listen, allowing you to better hear people out and make an informed response. That can be especially important at work, where coworkers or customers may have significant concerns or issues that need addressing.

With an improved attention span, not only can you focus on what someone says, but you can deliver what they need. You might even make more friends at work.

Increasing your attention span brings many benefits, for you and your employer. And by implementing the above-listed strategies, you can hone your focus and concentration levels, perform your best, and help your company reach its goals. Just announced! Explore the agenda for Uplift April 10—11 in SF.

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Athlete nutrition and lifestyle attentin, such as getting enough Athlete nutrition and practicing mindfulness, may attnetion improve qnd. In attentionn cases, difficulty concentrating may Insulin resistance and insulin resistance management an underlying health issue. Regular exercise, atteniton quality sleep, a nutritious diet, and frequent breaks from tasks may all help support concentration. If people experience persistent difficulty concentrating even after making these lifestyle changes, they can speak with a healthcare professional to determine whether there could be a medical cause. This article lists changes people can make to potentially improve their concentration, conditions that can affect focus, and when to speak with a doctor. One counterintuitive Mindful eating for athletes Take Improvd of breaks. Improve is a published lifestyle writer, print and digital journalist, adn soul-centered Mindful eating for athletes who Weight gain supplements in home and decor, mental health and wellness, and travel topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, and many more publications and websites. Every human mind is prone to wandering, especially when a task is dull or repetitive.