Guest Post: The Pandemic of Our Time: We Can’t Focus

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This is a guest post by Bud Hennekes from A Boundless World.  Look for his interview in tomorrow’s podcast.

Chances  are while reading this you’re doing something else. Maybe you’re talking to a friend on IM or perhaps you’re switching between your email and this article all in the claim of saving time. But what are the consequences of your multitasking? What are the consequences of your lack of ability to focus?

The truth is, our attention spans are atrocious. Perhaps the worst they’ve ever been in the history of humanity. And it’s only getting worse. With constant distractions thrown our way, rarely do find ourselves focused on one thing for more than a few minutes a time.

Your  ability to focus directly correlates with the success you have in your life. Are you where you want to be right now? Perhaps it’s your lack of focus to blame.

Having dealt with a plethora of distractions myself I know first hand that learning to focus isn’t always the most easy thing to do. Regardless of how bad your current focus is, you can always aim to improve.

The following are some simple ways to improve your focus and help make your life that much more productive.

Do Not Disturb:

Have a few hours a day in which you are NOT disturbed for any reason. Let your friends and family know that (barring family emergency) it is not OK to interrupt you. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done during this period of time assuming you follow the rest of the tips of this article.

Go For A Walk:

Believe it or not going for a walk is a good way to clear your mind and help gain clarity. I will often contemplate questions while going on a long walk and have a solid answer when I return. When walking focus on being present. Observe your surroundings, look at the beauty of life. Doing so will increase your ability to focus significantly.

Meditate:

Without a doubt practicing meditation is one of the best things I’ve ever done. While it can be frustrating at first, taking a moment out of your day to do NOTHING can be VERY productive. Focus on your breath. Clear your mind.

Work in Short Amounts of Time:

Many people work for hours at a time, which in itself is very counter productive. After about an two hours your ability to focus significantly drops. You should not work on anything for more than 90 minutes at a time followed by a quick break. Doing so will allow you to stay focused for intense bursts of time.

Stop Multitasking:

If you’re one who multitasks for the sake of productivity stop now. Multitasking doesn’t help your productive but rather kills it. Do one thing at a time. That’s it.

Did you know that when you multitask you’re worse off than smoking pot ( link “smoking pot” with http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-ferriss/marijuana-trumps-blackber_b_46595.html”

I’ve reduced the amount I’ve multitasked in my life and have seen amazing results.

The Cure:

While our world is suffering from a pandemic of not being able to focus, you don’t have to experience a similar fate.

Realize you have the ability to focus but only if you allow yourself. Stop letting the distractions of the world keep you from being the best you can be.

The cure starts with you.

Bud Hennekes is an 18 year old blogger who is dedicated to changing the way people think about themselves. His blog www.aboundlessworld.com empowers people to create and live in a blissful reality. His hobbies vary depending the day but more often than not he enjoys meditating, reading, connecting, and writing.

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