EWN Media Blog Is tech overload harming our levels of concentration?

Is tech overload harming our levels of concentration?Why can´t I concentrate?1. The age of distraction.Have you ever had one of those days when you just can't focus? One minute you're completely immersed in a work assignment, the next you're messaging your friends in a group chat and catching up on online showbiz gossip while watching videos of dogs chasing their own tails.The end result is you get nothing done and you're left feeling incredibly frustrated. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone and it may not be entirely your fault.Many experts believe our brains aren't prepared for the rapidly growing bundle of digital distractions that we are bombarded with, leaving us feeling sluggish and ultimately less productive. What we are facing is a very 21st Century problem.2. Tech addiciton.On average a person will consume 9 hours and 53 minutes of media in a period of 24 hours.More than half of 18 - 24 year olds check their phone within 5 minutes after waking up.A third of 25 - 34 year olds visit social media sites more than 10 times a day.Technology is now dominating all of our waking lives - and that comes at a cognitive cost. A study carried out in Canada in 2015 by Microsoft revealed that the average human attention span has fallen from 12 seconds at the turn of this century to a meagre eight seconds. That's less than a goldfish can handle. The researchers believe this isn't because we're becoming any less intelligent, but because we are now multitasking at all times.3. The multitasking dilemma.Some experts now believe that there's actually no such thing as multitasking - we just switch our focus from task to task extremely quickly. This could be having some serious consequences for how our brains function. Cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist Daniel J Levitin claims that, on average, we are taking in information equivalent to the content of 175 newspapers every day. That's five times more than we did 30 years ago. Our brains seek out novelty and, with the vast array of devices we have at our disposal, the temptation to multitask can be overwhelming.4. Quick fixes.If you´re finding it difficult to focus on tasks, fortunately there are steps you can take to help improve your concentration:-Turn off unnecessary devices. A microsoft study showed that when office workers were interrupted by an electronic device, it took around 15 minutes to re-engage in complicated tasks.Fuel up on food and water. Start the day right and eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast will leave you running on adrenaline which makes it harder to focus. Proteins and carbs stabilise blood sugar, drinking water helps avoid dehydration.Work out to focus the mind. Most of us are probably guilty of not making use of the local gym, but studies have shown that aerobic exercise improves immediate and long-term function in regions of the brain relating to attention.Sleep right in order to function. Burning the midnight oil with an early start in the morning, although at times, seems like a good idea, it is harming your brains ability to function. On a cellular level, sleep is when the body repairs and restores itself. Less than seven hours a night and your brain´s not getting what it needs to function.5. What next?Provided you follow the steps to the letter then you will soon become a multitasking maniac with laser beam like focus, well maybe you will. For those of us who never eat breakfast, break out in a cold sweat at the thought of using a gymnasium and very rarely manage to get the seven hours sleep our brains so desperately crave, provided you at least try to make a change then you should notice improvements. There are also whispers that video gaming actually improves connectivity within subregions of our brains, gives us increased neuroplasticity, or the brain´s ability to change and develop stronger connections, memory, and cognitive function. So, there you have it, play more video games. Find out more about our featured Business of the Week - Neater Heater. HELP Euro Weekly News to HELP promote YOUR business. T: 952 561 245directory@ewngetsit.comFacebookTwitterEWN Gets it! Email