Learn more about health with this collection
How to use storytelling to connect with others
The psychology behind storytelling
How to craft compelling stories
Our attention systems
According to scientists at Princeton University, the brain oscillates in and out of focus four times every second.
That means the brain stops focusing on the task at hand about 240 times a minute.
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Rhythms of attention
The brain is distractible. We focus in bursts with periods of distractibility in between those bursts, where the brain seems to look at the rest of the environment outside to see if there's something important going on elsewhere.
This rhythm affects our behavior all the ti...
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Understanding rhythms of attention
At any given moment, our brain focuses on a single point of interest. Like a filmstrip, the brain takes pictures of these moments, then assembles them into a cohesive story.
About four times every second, the brain stops taking snapshots of individual points of focus and collects backg...
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Taking advantage
Every four times a second, our brains are open to stimuli outside our initial focus.
If there's something very bright or blinking at that time, you will shift your attention. Advertisers take advantage of this. For example, when you're on the internet and ads are popping u...
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Modern society
Modern life insists that we perform all sorts of hyper-focused tasks that overburdens our distractible brains.
Consider driving and drinking coffee while you're on the phone. It means that you're continually switching attention that could cause an accident.
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Related collections
More like this
Understanding rhythms of attention
At any given moment, our brain focuses on a single point of interest. Like a filmstrip, the brain takes pictures of these moments, then assembles them into a cohesive story.
About four times every second, the brain stops taking snapshots of individual points of focus and collects backg...
How to control a wandering mind
To change anything in the brain, you have to focus your attention on the task at hand. However, most find it challenging to concentrate for long periods of time without daydreaming.
Curb your wandering mind by working out the cause for the wandering. Procrastination is a psychological copin...
Focus on the task
Instead of worrying about the outcome, worry about the task at hand.
That means developing tunnel vision. When you keep your eye on the task at hand (and only the task at hand), all you can see is the concrete steps necessary to excel.
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