7 Extremely Useful Tips on How to Increase Your Attention Span ...

1. Meditate

A lot of people have said that meditation is the best technique you can use if you’re looking for some new techniques on how to increase your attention span. I couldn’t agree more! It’s been actually proven as a scientific fact that meditation can help you feel calmer, more relaxed, more focused and happier because it’s one of the best ways to fight depression and anxiety. It’s also very easy to do, just find a place that it’s quiet, sit with your back against the wall, close your eyes and just empty your mind! Or you can try to focus on an image, sound or even on your own breathing.

2. Get Enough Sleep

I know this may sound a bit unrelated, but it’s actually true. If you want to improve your attention span, you must definitely get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of CrazyBusy says that "A good night's sleep is like pushing the reset button in your brain". Why not believe him? He also says that you should try to get the amount of sleep required for you to wake up without an alarm. If you do this, I really think you would be able to focus much better and your attention span will definitely be increased.

3. Use a Timer

One of the most efficient techniques you can use in order to improve your attention span is the famous and extremely effective Pomodoro Technique. Here is how it goes: you are supposed to set a timer for 25 minutes and then, do only one thing or one activity during those minutes. When the timer dings, you’ll get a five minute break to do whatever you want, as a reward for your good work. Then, you just set the timer again and keep going! It’s that easy and it actually works!

4. Start Reading

Another marvelous way to improve your attention span, which I found while searching for methods to improve your concentration is, of course, reading. By reading more, especially if you get caught in reading a very interesting book, you can focus on reading that book for hours without even noticing how much time it really passed or what’s going on around you.

5. Eat the Right Foods

The latest research has proven the fact that low blood sugar levels can shorten your attention span by affecting the speed at which you process information. This is why, it’s extremely important to never skip breakfast or any other meal for that matter. Do not forget that your breakfast should be rich in carbohydrates and protein so that you’ll be able to think well for extended periods. Also, try to avoid all the artificial colorings, sweeteners, and preservatives in your diet and make sure your diet is adequate in vitamins and minerals.

6. Exercise

I’m sure that most of you already know how important it is to exercise and how many benefits this healthy behavior can bring you. But, maybe not all of you know that by exercising on a regular basis, you can increase your attention span too. Recent studies have shown the fact that people who engage in any type of exercise have better concentration levels than do non-exercisers. If you don’t always have the time to go to gym, a ten minute walk through the park and a bit of stretching can really do wonders for your ability to focus better.

7. Use Your Observation Skills

One of my professors told me that the best way to improve your attention span and also, your memory, is by playing the «picture game». To do this, you must look at a picture and study it for a minute or so, and then you should look away and try to remember as much of the picture as you can. By practicing this very simple technique on a regular basis, you will definitely improve your attention span and of course, your memory and your power of recall.

Other creative ways for improving your attention span that I’ve discovered while I did my research, are: teaching yourself to think happy thoughts, limiting your internet and TV and practicing all these very simple techniques. So, what other tips for improving your attention span do you know? Do tell!