Pay Attention!

In the “Shifting Careers” blog on The New York Times site, Marci Alboher tackles the subject of focus and attention, and how both of them have been sabotaged by the many distractions of the digital age. She cites Maggie Jackson’s new book, Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age as a resource for regaining some of that lost attention.
 
Where do we begin? Jackson notes that attention and focus can be had through “training”, which includes meditation. From six-year-olds to adults, studies have shown that meditation groups increased their attention significantly.
 
Obviously, we cannot meditate our way through every day. The emails and text messages and voicemails will build up, but Alboher suggests trying to stay focused on one task at a time, if at all possible. If you are conversing with someone about an important matter, turn off the cell phone. If you are working on the computer, minimize the internet-surfing. Easier said than done, but with the practice of meditation, which is all about focus, we can emerge from our chaotic life to a greater sense of peace. [The New York Times]