Distraction is the process of diverting the attention from the desired area of focus and thereby blocking or diminishing the reception of the desired information.
One is expected to be behind the wheel free of distractions. A cognitive psychology at the University of Utah who specializes in attention, knows that our brains are prone to mistakes, especially when we are multitasking and dodging distractions. Among other things, his research has shown is that using a cell phone impairs most drivers as much as drinking alcohol does.
External distractions include factors such as social interactions, music, text messages, and phone calls. There are also internal distractions such as hunger, fatigue, illness, worrying, and daydreaming. Both external and internal distractions contribute to the interference of focus.
Do you realize how much the market values your attention? Billions of dollars are spent each year by companies to reach your eyes, your ears, and your mind. Thoughts result in decisions, behaviors, and habits. If an advertiser can get access to your mind, he can influence you and your purchases.
To stay effective you need to stay focused. And if you valued your own attention span, you need to be more vigilant as to what you let in.
The brain is not a tireless 3 pound machine; it easily get fatigued. What modern life does to us is exhaustion. Because of that, we cease to take into account the power that our brain has in every function that it performs physically and mentally, and just we follow a circle presented to us as a way of life. We ended up feeling that we are an insulated human being just designed to perform our circle, and who has nothing in common with the rest of nature.
When we slow down, stop the busywork, and feel the power to withdraw ourselves into a beautiful and natural surroundings, not only we feel our energy restored, but our mental performance improves too. It is a kind of boost that occurs when we have been immersed into the blossom of nature long enough. It produce a difference in qualitative thinking because the brain is exposed to different and natural frequencies of light, sound, vibration, and motion. Thus, nature exercises a great influence into brain's waves and allows the prefrontal cortex, the brain's commander center, to rest from the influence of the busy city life, like an overused muscle.
The brain is not an organ rigidly hardwired. Instead the brain's circuits can, through mental experience and activity, form, inform, and reform in new ways. Nature provides natural noninvasive avenues into the brain that pass through our senses and our bodies to awaken the brain's own healing capacities.
The internal sense of individual freedom acts only when no constraint forces are present around us. Being in contact with nature reduces anger, fear, and stress, and increases pleasant feelings that not only makes you feel better emotionally, but it contributes to the physical well being, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormone.
We are genetically programmed to find trees, plants, water, and other natural elements that make us forget our discomfort with the stressful life that the city present to our brain.
Own your attention span, nature makes you forget for a moment the action of the vampires that act behind the curtains of media. Your productivity depend upon your ability to control your cognitive attention. You can't give complete and equal cognitive attention to multiple thoughts simultaneously.
And whenever possible, turn off the digital devices and distractions when you are engaged in cognitive work.
Think of your mind as if it is a bank -the place where you store such valuable items as thoughts, dreams, skills, and experience. So naturally, you need to protect it. You can live a life of full control and focus.
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