Jennifer Hofmann: Making Friends with the Whims of Concentration

Please enjoy this narration from my brain while I was attempting to work:

Argh! The cat’s driving me crazy! I wonder what’s on Twitter? (opens Twitter)

Argh! Quit farting around! (closes Twitter)

I wonder why those bees are hanging around outside my window…

What’s in my email inbox?

Wait – what was I doing – oh yes…

It’s normal. Bouts of distraction happen. Everyone has different symptoms, but the outcome is the same: you’re busy but not purposeful.

What’s distracting you?  Once you realize what’s pulling you off track, you can manage your experience by removing the attention-grabbers.  For me, it was the sun’s glare, the cat’s repetitious grooming, and open project folders on my desk.

I closed the blinds, moved the cat off my lap, cleared the folders off my desk, and then closed more blinds because the sun moved (well, technically, the earth moved).  And sat down to work.

But even that doesn’t always help.  I got distracted. Again.

And I humbly realized: I can’t bend focus to my will. Even in the clearest, most refreshing spaces, sometimes people still can’t concentrate.

Once upon a time, people moved around. They walked places, moved their bodies for work, rode animals, collected their own food.

Today, I know a lot of people who sit at desks for a large portion of the day.  Me, for one.  In itself, that’s not such a bad thing.  But for many people that natural, vital movement is gone.

Taking movement breaks is vital to creativity.  Who hasn’t gotten a good idea in the shower? Or out walking?

If you’re distracted, and making adjustments to your space hasn’t helped, move.  Get up and get away from your desk. Do something you like.

You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll concentrate when you get back.

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If you want to hear more from Jennifer Hofmann, she will be presenting “It’s Not as Bad as You Think: Gentle organizing for creative spirits” on January 25th at the smARTist Telesummit 2010. Click here for all the details.