Concentration: A super skill in the new 'normal'

In a world where boredom seems to have become one of humanity's greatest fears, focusing our attention has become something to be avoided rather than a skill to be practiced in recent times. 

The COVID-19 crisis has, however, accelerated a predicted change in how we work. In the knowledge economy, which is characterised by increased digitisation, the human value lies in our ability to solve big problems; collaborate effectively with others; dance across disciplines; and work smarter, not harder. We need people who can focus and are willing to provide their brains with the stillness, time and space necessary to connect disparate ideas. 

This deeper form of work requires a shift in mindset for individuals and organisations and is a challenge for those accustomed to the hot-desking phenomenon of recent years, which has subtly facilitated cultures of distraction and shallowness.

These extraordinary times provide an opportunity to reflect on our work habits and what we can do differently to be happier and more productive in the future. Here are some ideas that can help to sharpen the saw when it comes to concentration.

One thing at a time

Multi-tasking is like kryptonite to concentration. Clifford Nass, the late Stanford professor who specialised in focus in the digital age, described people who multi-task as ‘mental wrecks’. They waste energy by not being able to easily distinguish what is irrelevant to a task at hand. Developing the discipline to focus on one thing at a time is worth the effort to increase your cognitive performance. Some steps that can help to do this include:

o   Only checking email at lunch time and the end of your working day (e.g. 1pm and 5pm)

o   Scheduling deep work, those tasks that require a focused cognitive effort, for those times of your day when you feel at your best (e.g. for me that’s first thing in the morning)

o   Creating an environment that supports focus. Work with one screen and in silence. If silence isn’t possible then listen to meditative, or classical, music - anything calming, and ideally without the distraction of lyrics.

Plan & prioritise

Our brains become addicted to the process of doing as it gives the illusion of progress. Clearing your email, for example, might feel like achievement but it’s the digital equivalent of pushing paper around your desk. Take time to plan your day – write down the one thing that, if you managed to complete it, would give you a feeling of genuine progress and achievement. You can expand this out to your week – identify the five key things you need to do and when you’re going to do them. This laser-like focus hones concentration. Physically scheduling in when you’re going to do what you plan to do (i.e. putting the time into your calendar) is also important. Psychologically, it creates a space for concentration to thrive.

Practice, practice, practice

Concentration is like a muscle – the more you work it, the stronger it becomes. Zoning in on one thing at a time and planning and prioritising help to flex this muscle – so too do things like yoga, meditation, tai chi, walking and running when all you can hear is the sound of your feet on the pavement. The great thing about concentration is that you can practice it anywhere – focusing on the different flavours in your food, for example; noticing where sensations of restlessness show up in your body when you’re bored; listening to a friend as they tell a story or share a problem. 

As technology continues to advance at a remorseless rate, the number of distractions in our environments will increase even further in the future. The people who will excel in this world will be those who can best direct their attention – what are you doing to cultivate this skill?