With the constant avalanche of information, multitasking and social media, staying focused is relatively challenging. According to a survey conducted by American psychologist Gloria Janet Mark, the time people spend on a single screen has decreased from 2.5 minutes to 47 seconds in the last two decades.
In a study that used screen capture technology to analyze mobile device screen time, researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Stanford University found that participants spoke on their phones an average of 228 times. And, on average, each session lasted just 10 seconds. .
What is focus?
According to Columbia University, in general, attention drives consciousness. We can only hold a limited amount of information in our consciousness at a time, so it involves focusing limited cognitive resources on a particular stimulus or stimulus.
“Attention is a multifaceted concept, but when we talk about an attention, we usually mean 'sustained attention' or 'attention-persistence'. “This is the period of time when we can direct our consciousness to a specific stimulus – a task, an object, an idea or even a person,” the university article explains.
Physical educator in the workplace and CEO of Pausa Ativa Ocupacional Daniel Sandi highlights the importance of managing attention as a limited resource to guarantee both well-being and productivity in the workplace and in personal life.
“It is a finite resource and its effective management is critical to ensure good performance and well-being. “People think that attention problems are only related to that particular moment, but many aspects of life affect attention deficit,” says Daniel.
Constant distractions impair attention
Constant distractions such as smartphone notifications, emails, side conversations and personal worries can reduce focus and compromise performance on important tasks, the expert says.
Additionally, health and lifestyle may be contributing factors. Excessive stress, fatigue and lack of sleep are some of the reasons that lead to lack of focus, as well as lack of cardiorespiratory fitness, Sandy analysed.
“There are studies that have already done a series of cognitive tasks to analyze participants' performance. It became clear that 30 minutes was enough to lose focus. Cardiorespiratory fitness also has an impact because it can, in a good state, filter out distractions”, he highlights.
Recovery strategies
Although there are many distractions and factors affecting well-being, attention can be restored with specific strategies. Among them, the expert highlights the importance of organizing space and effectively distributing activities.
“Schedules that are constrained by demands, organized environments, and effective communication of concentration requirements are practices that favor high productivity and focused practice. It is important to remember to drink water and feed regularly”, he highlights.
Another effective strategy to improve productivity is to implement active breaks while commuting. Studies have shown that short work sessions followed by short breaks are more effective in maintaining high focus and avoiding mental fatigue.
“Active intervals involving body and breathing movements can promote positive resetting in the cognitive system, contributing to energy renewal and improved performance”, he concludes.
