Improving Mental Alertness
Strategies to Help Increase Attention Span and Focus
The ability to concentrate exists when hormones, neurotransmitters and chemicals found in the brain, such as dopamine, all are present in the right amounts in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. [“Fuzzy Brain? Improve Your Attention Span”, 2008, Nov 14, Author Unknown, Real Simple] Dopamine is sometimes known as the “pleasure chemical” in the brain and levels rise when someone experiences something enjoyable. When this happens, concentration levels increase in an effort to continue high dopamine levels. When attention wanes, dopamine levels drop and in an effort to increase dopamine levels, additional and interesting activities are naturally sought.
Common Causes for Inability to Focus or Concentrate
There are a number of reasons the brain may have a difficult time keeping focused and retaining attention to the task at hand. Two of the most common reasons would be lack of sleep and stress
Lack of sleep - A good night’s sleep helps to rejuvenate the body. Without sleep, people become oxygen deprived. Oxygen is necessary for the brain to produce dopamine and other chemicals to help keep focused.
Anxiety or stressful situations - Stress also impacts the chemicals in the brain. Stress increases chemicals such as norepinephrine and cortisol. These chemicals can create a hyperfocus mode and causing people to concentrate on the stress inducing situation. It becomes difficult to think about anything else, including work
What You Can Do to Increase Attention
Although the inability to pay attention can be caused by internal or external factors, there are some simple strategies to help regain focus.
Eat a snack. According to Dr. Ned Hallowell, snacks with a balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein can help to keep blood sugar levels even. A good snack might be an apple and a piece of cheese.
Stay away from caffeine. Although caffeine can provide a quick burst of focus, drinking too much caffeine can cause nervousness and may lead to a decrease in attention .
Take a walk. Exercise can help to increase concentration levels. Taking a walk or moving around helps to increase alertness. Even standing up and stretching for a few minutes can help focus.
Try meditation. Meditation can help to relieve stress, increase creativity and sharpen mental skills.
Keep a journal. Keeping a daily journal is a great way to reduce stress and improves thinking skills.
Sources:
“Fuzzy Brain? Improve Your Attention Span, 2008, Nov 14, Author Unknown, Real Simple
“Top 8 Strategies to Sharpen Thinking Sills”,2007, June 21, Elizabeth Scott, M.S. About.com
Taking a Walk Can Improve Concentration
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