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Focus Your Mind, Improve Your Learning
5:09Learn how your brain uses "focused" and "diffused" modes of thought to learn and make new neural connections. Use strategies to reduce distractions, improve focus, and learn better.
Hi, I'm Alena, a programmer,
teacher, and lifelong learner.
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Along with programming a computer, I'm
fascinated with the programming of your
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brain, and how individuals can
reach their full potential.
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Our brain uses two modes when it comes to
learning, focus mode and diffuse mode.
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In focus mode you're concentrating on the
new skill that you're attempting to learn.
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To be most effective we need
to ignore distractions and
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be able to give our full
attention to the task at hand.
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This is probably what you think about
when you hear the word learning.
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But diffuse mode is also important.
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In diffuse mode you let your mind wander.
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This allows your brain to jump
from concept to concept, and
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connect the dots to build
the larger picture.
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Without these neural connections,
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you can only gain a narrow
understanding of a new idea, or skill.
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And will have a hard time
making use of that knowledge.
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You may be able to solve
a specific problem, but
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be unable to use that same knowledge
to solve additional problems.
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You need both the mechanics of how
the new concept works as well as a broad
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understanding of how the new concepts
fits together with what you already know.
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A focused beam of light works well for
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allowing us to see the details
of an individual object.
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But when we diffuse that light into
a broader beam we can more easily see how
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all the objects in a room fit together.
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It can be challenging to
develop a strong mode of focus
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because of the distracted
environment in which we live.
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With all the interconnected
smart devices and
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social media, we're continually
bombarded with information overload.
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Add to that the fact that multitasking
is seen as a positive quality,
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plus the dopamine rush each time we
complete small tasks on our to do list.
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Sometimes we also mistake busyness for
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productivity, when we're just
moving information around.
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Then there's our old internal
struggles with procrastination.
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Instead of writing that report
that we've been dreading,
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we suddenly feel very motivated
to clean our workspace or
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organize the music collection
we've been putting off for years.
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These distractions cause us to live in
a state of continual partial attention.
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This is followed by feelings of failure
when no matter how much time and
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will power we exert, we are unsuccessful
in producing high output and
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preventing procrastination.
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So, how do we train our brains
to prevent procrastination and
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more fully engage in focus mode?
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And how can we best use diffuse mode?
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I've collected some of the best tips for
helping you do just that.
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First, you should prepare your body.
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Exercise clears toxins from your brain
to allow us to think more clearly.
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It also infuses our brain cells with
the oxygen they need to operate.
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Fueling your brain with healthy
fats such as eggs, nuts, and
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avocado supplies energy and
increases production of neurotransmitters.
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Which are the vehicles of
communication within your brain.
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Caffeine is a drug and
should be used accordingly.
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Try exercise to help you wake up, and
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not having your first cup of
coffee until mid morning.
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Next you should prepare your mind.
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Our brains crave routines and
schedules and
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can benefit greatly by
knowing what to expect.
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Break your time into chunks of focus and
diffuse time.
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Your brain wants roughly
an hour on 15 minutes off.
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Another popular method people use
successfully is the Pomodoro technique,
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a set pattern of focus and break times.
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Within each focus period
make sure that you decide
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exactly where you're going
to apply your focus.
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And finally, prepare your space.
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Turn off distractions.
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Turn off your cell phone or
leave it in another room.
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If you're working on a computer,
disable the Internet.
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Or, maybe just close applications you
don't need, and turn off notifications.
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Find a clean, quiet space when possible.
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Wear headphones.
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The sounds we hear can also
impact our productivity.
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Try listening to nature sounds or
white noise.
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You could also try music without lyrics or
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check out some specific playlists
designed to help you focus.
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Repeating the back and
forth between focus and
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diffuse mode will help your brain
perform at optimum capacity.
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I have two final pieces of advice.
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Learn something new before bed.
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Your brain does some of its best
diffuse work while you're sleeping.
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And finally, get started.
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Take something that you've been putting
off and push yourself to work on it for
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just five minutes.
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Often, this will help you get over
the hurdle of procrastination and
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on to actually completing the task.
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