Your Attention, Please

As the parent of a busy 10-year-old with a predilection for anything screen-related, I find myself thinking about our ability, or lack thereof, to pay close attention to our world. Think about it: which way does the Queen or Abe Lincoln face on the penny? Without looking at your watch, can you picture its face? Are all the numbers identified? So much of our everyday life goes unnoticed. I find this fascinating, dismaying, and a concept worth our attention.

Current research on multi-tasking and the brain is revealing that although we may think we’re good at it, we actually can’t pay attention to more than one thing at a time very well at all.  Our brains are evolving to switch from one task to another at a faster speed, but we focus on one thing at a time, even if it’s only for a second or two. So, you may think that you’re instant messaging, watching TV, eating, and doing homework simultaneously, but your brain is compartmentalizing each task. Don't you feel badly for your poor overworked brain? It has so much to do!

Current clinical research is also showing therapeutic benefits to mindfulness training. Mindfulness is a big buzz-word these days in psychology, although the techniques have been used in many cultures for thousands of years. Mindfulness is awareness of the current moment with acceptance (Germer, Siegel, Fulton, 2005). Mindful awareness involves being exquisitely conscious of what you’re doing as you’re doing it. It means being present, fully engaged, and nonjudgmental. From this place of being, it becomes easy to know who you are and where you belong. Training your brain to focus on just one thing for an extended period of time has energizing and stress-relieving effects.

Slow down. Pay attention. When you're brushing your teeth, just brush your teeth. When you're talking to a friend on the phone, sit down and listen. Notice your thoughts and feelings without judging their “goodness” or “badness.” I know, I know... easier said than done, but worth the effort it takes to appreciate the moment.

Love,

Ellen

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