Have you struggled to get through a difficult task or read through an important chapter? You might as well have wished that your concentration level was higher than ever before. But, there is a fine line between concentration and attention span, and most people seem to blur this fine line. Concentration is the effort you put towards what you are working for, and attention span is the length of time you can hold that effort. You might have read through the first sentence and completely just stared at the page for the next few. This means your attention span only lasts for the first few sentences.
Risk factors
A short attention span can have many impacts on your life, including:
- Under-performing at work or school
- Never be able to tick off the to-do-list
- Missing out on important information
- Skipping a routine and ending up living an unhealthy life
What affects concentration?
Below are some reasons that can be causing your decreasing or nil attention span:
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Unnoticed or non-treated mental health concerns
- ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)
- Head wounds or concussions
- Poor eye-sight
How to increase attention span?
If you have ever wondered how to increase your attention span, you have landed on the right page. Below are some of the ways you can adapt for improving attention span.
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Meditation
Meditation and being mindful can add excellent benefits to your life, and an enhanced attention span is one of them. Many believe that meditation is just sitting quietly in one place with their eyes closed, and it is much more than that. Yoga helps in a big way to meditate and practice mindfulness, and it allows you to be aware of your surroundings and concentrate on what is happening around you. Just like your muscles needs to be trained through weight-lifting, your mind needs to be trained through meditation.
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Adequate water intake
Staying hydrated is good for your body, organs, and mind. Studies show that being dehydrated can directly impact your concentration power and impact your attention span.
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Stick to a routine
When you stick to a fixed routine, you train your brain to be active for that particular activity at that time of the day. This then forms into a habit, and once it is a habit, the brain finds it very easy to concentrate.
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Tea helps
This one might sound a little off, but it has been proven true for some. Coffee at unusual hours might help you stay awake, but it is the only tea that can help you pay attention, dedicate your attention and stick to it.
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Chew gum
If you found the previous amusing, wait till you reach this one. Yes, chewing gums can help in improving attention span, and it helps in creating a sense of alert in the body and improves attention.
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Train your brain with games
You can start playing games that require your undivided attention and your ultimate focus to increase the period your brain can retain that attention. Play games like chess, Sudoku, solve puzzles, and this should help somewhat to get a longer attention span.
Your brain might respond to a few of these amazing techniques and might not react at all to some. It is best if you try a few of them to ensure it works for you. However, if this still does not work for you please check if this is proving to be a serious concern and accordingly immediately get in touch with a doctor.
