Attention is an important quality of a person, allowing him not to lose sight of any details. This skill is not developed by everyone. Therefore, people very often get into unpleasant situations. How to develop attention to avoid failure. What is training attention? Can this be done on their own or only with outside help? How to improve attention at the household level? Are there effective ways to develop attention, allowing to improve this skill extremely quickly? Pay attention to the tips contained in this article.
Is it possible to develop attention
How to train attention? - the question is important, but first it should be understood whether it can be done in principle. To do this, analyze what attention. Attention is the ability of selective perception. Like other human skills, attention is evolving. But, before starting a training session, it is worthwhile to find out what types and properties of attention are available. After all, work with them has its own specifics.
Attention happens involuntary (passive), arbitrary (active) and postvoluntary. The first is the human reaction to an unexpected irritant. For example, withdrawing a hand from a hot pan or bouncing off to the side if a car’s signal, etc., sounds from behind. Its value is difficult to overestimate, since involuntary attention helps to preserve life or health. But it is practically impossible to train him. Is that if it comes to muscle memory, when a person brings to automatism certain actions. Someone may not even understand where the opponent’s fists are flying from, but his trained body will evade danger itself.
The second is a conscious mental action coupled with a volitional effort to concentrate in a certain direction. Here is the management of attention, which can be developed and trained.
Third, it arises when there is interest in the object of perception. In this case, just as with passive attention, it is not necessary to make volitional efforts. This is due to the relevance of the observer.
Attention Properties
Attention is characterized by five main components:
- Orientation - focusing on a specific object;
- Concentration - keeping attention in the necessary direction;
- Volume - the ability to observe several objects at the same time;
- Resilience - the duration of concentration;
- Switchability - change of objects of observation.
Each of these properties is amenable to improvement and training.
Attention training
In this section, we list the most effective methods of developing attention. From the ability to focus on the object depends on how quickly it gets into the field of attention. Concentration with sustainability allows you to focus. Volume will determine the size of the "field of view". Switchability allows you to quickly respond to new circumstances.
Every parameter matters in a person's life. And do not think that the most important is only a training of attention. For example, drivers know how useful the ability to quickly switch or keep in sight a large number of objects (the road, other road users, road signs, etc.).
It should be remembered that the training of any skill should use this very skill. That is, if you want to increase the amount of attention, then the exercises should be done exactly to increase the volume.
Second hand
The best answer to the question of how to develop attention, especially when it comes to the ability to concentrate. Almost everyone has a watch with arrows, which hang in a home or office in a prominent place. You can set the clock on the desktop computer or phone screen. So, to improve attention, you should focus on the second hand, not to be distracted from its movement for a few minutes. This will help develop the skill of attention concentration and sustainability.
A more complex version of this exercise is to watch the second hand when the TV or computer is on. It is desirable to broadcast a favorite show or movie. In this case, the development of attention will be the most effective.
Search for differences
The game, which was still fond of Soviet students. Two almost identical pictures, differing in several elements. These very differences to find and need. It helps to improve attention, especially its properties such as volume and switchability. After all, it is necessary to keep both images in sight at the same time, very quickly switch between similar fragments.
The development of the Internet and mobile applications allows you to train online, or download such games. They present hundreds of tasks of varying difficulty, so that will not be boring.
Sasaki Method
How to improve attention when millions of thoughts are constantly “swarming” in your head? There is an original technique, named after Chris Sasaki.
According to this approach, it is necessary to learn the following psychological setting. Every time a person feels that he is “breaking off” from reality, he needs to say “Attention” to himself. Then look around, clearly understand where he is, what is happening around, etc.
You can do this exercise anywhere. It is enough for 10 minutes to concentrate on a particular object. Every time, when thoughts will be "carried away into the clouds," repeat the distinct word "Attention."
This technique will gradually teach to manage attention, to capture events occurring alongside.
Counting numbers
This method of developing attention at the same time helps to improve a person’s mathematical abilities. Such an exercise can be found on the Internet, or done with someone. It is necessary to write on the sheet of paper in a random order a large number of prime numbers from 1 to 9.
For example, 123256372587685432517896654564767 ... etc. Next, a task is given, for example, to find all triples or other numbers, or their combinations (58, 78, 564, etc.). This technique is working on the focus of attention, the ability to focus, select one object.
True False
An interesting online game that can be implemented on sheets of paper. To do this, take the colored markers and on each separate sheet write down one word denoting the color: "Red", "Blue", "Yellow", "Violet", "Green", etc. In some cases, the word and color of the marker are the same, in others - not. The participant needs to say correctly or incorrectly as soon as possible. His partner keeps a stack of sheets in front of him, tidying up one by one. For example, if “Green” is written on paper with a red felt-tip pen, then this is an erroneous statement, and if it is green, then it is true. Exercise, at first glance, childish, but will help develop attention and adult.
Attention training is a scrupulous process. Haste is not appropriate here. After all, how to develop attention, if you do it in a hurry? On the contrary, by improving attention, a person becomes more restrained. This allows you to less distracted by unnecessary things, to become more purposeful and organized.
