How well are you able to focus? We multi-task, don’t we? Watch TV while knitting or playing solitaire on the computer; play with a toddler while speaking on the phone; go out to dinner and text someone a photo of the meal. But how does this kind of lifestyle impact on our ability to focus? What are we robbing ourselves of as we split our attention into many parts?
The world drives us into fast fix-it mode. We live in an instant world which breeds impatience and leads to stress. I would suggest that a lifestyle of multi-tasking prevents us from being truly present.
In my last two weeks of Thursday posts on LinkedIn, I shared about an emotional response to a photo. Part of my learning was brought about by not rushing on with life but, instead, to keep returning to the subject until I had got all the ‘juice out of the orange’. The impact on me was positive and affirming.
What do we miss out on when we fail to focus? The focus might be to examine our response to a situation or it could be related to a piece of work that needs attention to detail or some creative thinking.
Perhaps it is time to learn some new habits.
· Slow down when the situation invites you to go deeper or broader in order to notice what has and is contributing to the state of play.
· Take time to meditate/be more mindful at some point in your day.
Such a practise allows your thoughts to invite you into some new pathways; this can be tricky for the action-oriented person, so start by taking a walk or sitting somewhere peaceful with a nice drink. Look around you; let go of all your concerns and allow your mind be free as you start to notice form and shape, colour and sounds. Let your mind rest and be refreshed. See what thoughts and ideas start to come to you.
Multi-tasking and speed are great skills but they must not be allowed to prevent us from enjoying focussing on quality and giving time to creative thinking. Everyone benefits when we take our foot off the accelerator and vary our mode of operating.