January 15, 2013Forbes
3 Simple Ways to Improve Your Focus
By: Julie Morgenstern
The following is an excerpt. To read the full story visit the Forbes website.
Avoid Computers for the First and Last Hour of Each Day
Our screen lives (email, social media sites, online news) have created an instant-response culture that has been scientifically proven to be addictive, stealing our ability to concentrate. And so, as a 2012 study by UC Irvine and U.S. Army researchers found, spending time away from email significantly improves one’s ability to focus.
While I’m not suggesting you cut out email altogether, one easy way to break the mindless habit is to start and end each day fully unplugged. Devoting your first hour at home and at work for your most critical, concentrated task will allow you to begin your day with a sense of accomplishment and control. And preserving your last hour of the day to relax and unwind will get you centered and prepared to sleep—another activity that’s crucial to improving focus.
3 Simple Ways to Improve Your Focus