RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MINDFULNESS TECHNIQUE IMPROVES ATTENTION
Researchers at the University of Sunshine Coast, Australia, conducted a study investigating how mindfulness can improve the ability to pay attention. They discovered that participants who were randomly allocated to a mindfulness intervention group, not only showed improvements in sustained attention, but also maintained these improvements up to six months later in a follow-up visit.
THE STUDY FOUND THAT TWO TYPES OF BRAIN PROCESSES WERE ENHANCED BY MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness training increased the efficiency of the brain pathways that process information coming in from the senses. In other words, it created a boost in attention that helped the participants see the information more accurately. This improvement in sensory abilities is often referred to by scientists as enhancing “bottom-up” processes.
THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT…
Mindfulness training improves the ability of the brain to direct attention to the information of interest. They found that participants were better able to focus on the task at hand, whilst ignoring distractions. These types of control processes responsible for allocating attention are often referred to as “top-down” processes.
So now, let’s talk about tips and practice!
To be fully present in a single task can be extremely difficult. Our brain simply loves to get distracted, but frankly, nothing feels better than finishing a job rapidly and effectively.
To achieve this, firstly remember to train your brain, and you can do this with the concentration exercises that we teach at DeRose Meditation. Your brain needs to get into the habit of staying focused on one point for a long period. This was originally called “êkagatra”. The daily training of concentration will provide you with a very sharp mind.
Secondly, don’t fall into the trap of trying to multi-task, start and finish one task at a time, and also avoid the accumulation of tasks. I always have a piece of paper at hand or use a “to-dos list” App, which allows me to quickly make notes of thoughts that may arise whilst I’m working on something else.
Finally, give your brain a break. The brain needs at least 5 minutes of break every half-hour, to reset and recharge. Otherwise, you may run out of energy too quickly! To accomplish this you can move away and have a walk around, maybe make yourself a cup of tea, think about something else, and then come back to the task. In this way, you end up being more productive than working for hours straight!
You can take your first step into mindfulness by following the link below and enjoy a full practice of breathwork and mindfulness technique: