to my 2014 "C is for ..." post of last year's A to Z Challenge. Unfortunately, the issues are still there that I wrote about when looking at concentration skills for children.
But I also confess that I seem to be too quick to lose focus myself these days. I rush, rush, rush. I don't have time to spend intent on anything - telling myself there's too much to fit in to my busy day. So I find myself flitting between tasks, letting my mind wander to other things when I should be working on the thing before me. At home, if nothing grabs my attention on television I am constantly changing channels, if I am struggling with an activity I put it to one side rather than persevere, if I haven't got into a book by the end of the first chapter then it's back on the book shelf. And I know I didn't use to be like this but now we seem to expect everything to be at hand and quick and instant! No wonder children are having a hard time of it!!
Over on her blog, Fil is writing about a lovely evening she was part of that might just offer a cure - a slowing down - a chance to become absorbed with what is happening around oneself. The occasion she writes about was to reflect on peace between communities all over the world but maybe it also offers a chance for inner peace and thereby the ability to re-focus and concentrate? I urge you to head over there and read all about it - http://fil-campbell.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/bake-bread-for-peace.html
If you've been able to concentrate up to this point then click the button below to head over to my original post and let me know what you think your concentration is like these days?
What makes your brain head for the hills? What makes you focus? Is new technology to blame or are we just becoming lazy in our ways of thinking?
I think modern techology is to blame for many things, including family life, children rather paly with play staions than read a book, I think the list is endless.
ReplyDeleteSome good issues here which made interesting reading.
Yvonne.
Yes curling up with a book is a way to really unwind in this modern world - thank you for mentioning it :)
DeleteI think it is technology to an extent. The younger you introduce kids to videos and video games the more they become programmed to expect instant rewards. Their brains are still forming and we are wiring them to expect flashy, fun and quick. This is true through teen years too. We are very careful to limit exposure or find games that take time and concentration- searches for hidden objects, word searches, Sudoku. You cannot block out technology completely and it is not completely to blame.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that the pace we are living is a big portion of that. The words I say most to my kids are all version of hurry up.
Yes - instant reward & gratification of many games is a problem and I do agree that unfortunately we as the adults are often the ones telling children to "hurry up"!
Deletebut they have no sense of urgency and are so easily distracted! Catch 22
DeleteThere are so many things we can blame on the reasons for our lack of focus. The world is such a busy place. Technology is unreal. I loved the cartoon from open school night. I think that is it SPOT ON. I find it unbelievable that kids are even allowed to be on their electronics during school. When I mention it to my grandkids they say : it would be hard to tell us to stay off them when the teachers are on them all the time. I can't even watch TV anymore without a book on my lap. I think we all just need to make ourselves SLOW DOWN and enjoy our lives......I'm doing the A to Z Road Trip. Are you?
ReplyDeleteIn primary school, we are able to ensure that the children do not have access to their own electronics and as teachers we are banned from taking phones into our classrooms too! Not that I'd have any time to do anything or take a call when I'm in school. But in high school it's another matter & I know even my daughter has been guilty of this!!! In answer to your question - yes I will be doing the Road Trip - & my first run down of new blogs I've visited will be coming this weekend :)
DeleteI used to love, love, love to read. Now I have gotten lazy. I’d rather someone read to me. Also if I am listening to a book that I have downloaded from Audible then I can also knit at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI never just sit and watch TV either. I’ll either be on my laptop or knitting while watching.
Yeah, I’ll blame it on technology.
I can't just sit and watch TV either - I have to be doing something with my hands, whether it be cross stitching, playing on my laptop/iphone/ipad, cooking or even folding the washing (not that the last one happens often!). But I think that's more a sensory processing thing than a concentration thing - I need a lot more movement or tactile input in order to focus. In Uni lectures I used to either take copious amounts of notes or colour in my notes- my hands hand to be moving or I'd zone out.
DeleteThat being said, my concentration skills at work are very poor and I'll flit from one report or project to another. I'm the same with designing patterns - I've got about 5 on the go at once because I get a new idea and want to start working on it straight away rather than finish off the one I've already started.
In my opinion technology has definitely had an impact on people's concentration spans, particularly childrens - everything is so instant and at their finger tips. Remember when we used to have to wait for the internet to dial up, and then for each page to download. Used to take ages and now we complain when it doesn't happen in 0.25 seconds.
Very facintating topic SENCO! :D
I think this is called Multi-Tasking & should be considered a Good Thing - rather than just watching TV you are producing something - far better than just being a couch potato!!!!
DeleteGosh you've nailed this on the head - I can't concentrate for any length of time these days - and there's so much I want to do but I'm constantly getting distracted and end up wrecked as a result of it. I've been trying to put a timer on myself - 20 minutes at a go, to just write emails, or just comment on blogs, or just practice guitar.. But my resolve evaporates after one day cos I get distracted again and forget lol I think communication is so easy that we get pulled in many directions - whereas even 10 years ago you took time to phone or write a letter and it took time to read and to respond to - now everything feels like it should be instant.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. And thank you so much for the mention :) I do find that an afternoon cooking or even cleaning slows me down although most of the time I'm able to ignore both lol
Have a great weekend.
Fil
Fil’s Place - Old songs and Memories
Thanks Fil and you surprise me as I did tend to think that you would be very methodical because of the amount of things you need to get done - especially when recording or touring. I'm certainly with you on the being able to ignore the cooking and cleaning!! :)
DeleteI read an article on BBC News a little while ago which was saying that we're becoming so used to getting information in Twitter or Facebook sized chunks that it's hard for us to adapt to longer sources of information.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of lucky not having Internet or TV at home in that I have to take things slower when I go online on my phone. It's so easy to be bombarded by all these sources of technology that I can see how it can be hard to stay focused. :-)