Multitasking may speed you through your to-do list, but it also makes you more likely to make mistakes and miss important cues, and less likely to retain information. Here are three ways to focus:
- Think good thoughts. Positive emotions improve the brain’s executive function and encourage creative and strategic thinking. Improve your emotional balance by actively thinking about things that make you happy.
- Ban distractions. Be aware of what steals your attention. When disrupted, make a conscious choice to return to the task at hand.
- Leave things behind. When you turn to a new task, part of your brain is still thinking about the last one. Before starting something new, go for a walk, climb stairs, or do some deep breathing to clear your head.
Adapted from “Train Your Brain to Focus” by Paul Hammerness, MD, and Margaret Moore.
