Learning to Focus by Zach Travers
There are 1440 minutes in a 24 hour period, 1080 in the 18 hours that most of us are awake. With the Internet, I have found that those minutes can get whittled away quickly. A minute here, five there, it all adds up. It is also incredible how what seems to be a short break can turn into an hour of wasted time. Links lead to links, and the brain gets used to on-command factoids with very little work required to learn new information.
The world is changing, and our collective attention span has gotten short. There are many of us, especially Generation X and younger, that are simply unable to focus because they have never really had to do it. Information on demand can be amazing, but it can create an inability to look beyond the surface. Why analyze something deeply when there is a new fact to learn right around the corner?
How do you build attention? First, I would recommend cutting down on the Internet perusing if you are trying to build focus ability, but don’t necessarily do it all at once. Focus and attention are muscles, and you have to build them in the same manner you would any muscle.
Find something challenging like a work of classic literature, a sudoku or logic puzzle, or a difficult type of math, and work on it a little every day. While you are doing it, work on that and nothing else. Then incrementally increase the time. It seems like a simple method, and it is. There are no shortcuts to learning focus.
Gregory Hake 
Very interesting. I was also finding some hindrances when I tried to conciliate internet, and normal focus. I have changed my habits and now I am able to focus incredibly well. And you just said everything I have done! Very good.
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Very interesting. I had realised I could not focus properly and I was finding some hindrances when I tried to focus and fight against internet. I’ve learned to cut it. And you said everything I’ve done. Beautiful
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Interesting to consider that definitions of focus in the dictionary. One states,”to fix on one object or purpose.” Fixing on purposeful living does bring control to our use of the internet as well as all areas of our lives. Thanks for your post Zach.
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Computer technology surely has changed the way people think, with a shift away from more reductive understanding and literary skills to more of a consumption of information as you point out, and a culture of simulation and artificial realities. That’s just not going to cut it in the coming era if we are to successfully live in a global culture of greater tolerance and democracy where information technology serves human thinking instead of it being allowed to set the conditions for thought. Focus is a great example, a result of these challenges that we are facing right now. Computers have to change and before that, certainly our use of them!
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Great post! The Internet has seemed to help develop the ability to jump to snap judgement or reach a conclusion with out really considering the the idea in question. It is advertising on crack; not just products but concepts, opinions, significance and understanding. Our lives deserve the sagacity that comes with study and contemplation. The idea of multitasking has deffinately changed the depth with which we experience tasks as well.
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The mind must be exercised, just as any other part of our body. These are some excellent ideas. I find the arts – drawing, painting, etc. also an excellent way to focus.
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Great point and suggestions!
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