Need help focusing during finals?
Posted Nov 29, 2011, 2:45 PM UTC
41238
Another tip for finals: Our ability to focus is finite; the resource is called directed attention. Once our directed attention fatigues, only restorative activities (napping, meditating, yoga, nature walks, etc.) can replenish the resource. Therefore, it's crucial to use directed attention efficiently by: studying in distraction free environments, taking breaks, switching up your types of studying, sleeping and eating well, getting even a bit of exercise.
19
This is very intresting, could you provide a source or other refrences.
7
Sure. Let me dig them up this evening. I am currently taking a class at the University of Michigan called "Behavior and the Environment" and our first unit was about attention. There's a specific article I want to find but our very interesting textbook that also covers this is Humanscapes: Environments for People by Stephen and Rachael Kaplan. It's a bit old but I've been told it's as relevant as ever.
9
In 1892, the psychologist William James was the first to suggest the notion of effortful attention in his exploration of the topic in Psychology (Briefer Course).
His overarching claim? Attention is a foundation of cognition.
He claimed there were varieties of attention. The two types of attention that are generally accepted are involuntary attention and directed attention (James called directed attention “voluntary attention,” which I find very descriptive as well.). He summarized directed attention very much the way I described it in the first comment, but I will add that directed attention is effortful and that effort is used to inhibit competing stimuli otherwise known as distractions (Unfortunately, due to the nature of the course, we don’t discuss the physiological reasons that attention fatigues, just the psychological aspects.). James said that the natural tendency of attention, when left to itself, is to wander to new things.
On the other hand, involuntary attention can also be called fascination, and it does not fatigue. To restate, fascination is infinite and effortless. Think of that novel you read in one sitting compared to reading the same amount on some scholarly subject.
Among the things we find fascinating (Summation from aforementioned Humanscape…):
-Survival: Our attention doesn’t fatigue when we’re trying not to die.
- Puzzles and opportunities to explore
-“Riots” of fascinating stimuli: UM football games (in person), the circus, concerts, etc.
Wolves here on this subreddit might protest the notion of directed attention fatigue, that “work ethic” is the x-factor that leads people to achieving their goals. Our professor for the course suggests that we consider how fascination (Remember, it does not fatigue.) might play a role in what appears to be relentless working. James also responds to the relationship a genius has with attention with two major points:
-Geniuses are commonly believed to excel because of their power of sustained attention but their attention does not make geniuses of them, their genius makes them attentive.
-Genius tends to prevent a man from acquiring habits of voluntary attention: I believe James is suggesting that a genius can master a concept so quickly that they don’t have much need for voluntary attention, but if anyone wants to try and discern it for themselves, message your e-mail to me and I will send you the PDF.
Anyway, Humanscape is really the best overview of these concepts, and James is a good foundational piece. The Kaplans (Stephen and Rachel) have tons of publications out in the scholarly universe about this sort of thing and its practical application. Looks like Google Scholar does pull a bunch of stuff up. Also, this guy is not the guy I’m talking about.
One last note of interest to Wolves: Our professor was asked whether or not we could increase the amount of directed attention we have. He said that the research is not conclusive but suggests we cannot.
Sorry this is somewhat scattered and not entirely complete, but I am trying to summarize about a month of lecture here! And, of course, I am not personally an expert on the topic, but the class is really awesome and has really given me other ways of thinking about how we learn and live.
Edit: Formatting, and I want to add that one of the professor's goals in the class is to sort of debunk the accepted notions about how we learn and function in our environment. The course is required for School of Natural Resources and Environment students who want to earn a Master of Science in Behavior, Education, and Communication.
2
This picture reminded me to take some adderal.
8
jealous
3
If you feel that you need cognitive enhancers, you should give /r/Nootropics a visit
2
checked it out, seems like alot of placebo but i might buy some stuff in the future. L-Theanine (green tea) seems to help alot of people so maybe i'll buy some matcha or green tea!
Thx for the heads up
1
Okay
8
And when you are done studying, go to bed, don't fuck around on the internet.
7
Y-yes, Sir Ryuk! Ill be done with Reddit tonight!
3
Stern black man commands, I obey.
6
As was foretold.
3
I want to take this seriously, but I'm having a hard time.
- He's too young.
- It makes me want to rebel
- He's totally procrastinating
- Is this you, procrastinating on reddit, telling us not to procrastinate?
6
I had the same issue with him being young.
4
It needs to be Samuel L. Jackson in Black Snake Moan using the crazy eyes to optimize effectiveness.
3
with the thumbnail size, for a second i actually thought you were my dad.
4
I'm always hoping for Amy Chua, Tiger Mom, to come visit me at my house and get me started....
2
Ah the joys of not being a student anymore.
2
Motivational black guy motivates.
2
[deleted]
1
[deleted]
1
why?
0
[deleted]
0
First world problems: "BooHooo I have to study and take a test :( :'( :'( "
wouldn't hurt to be grateful for the fact that we have the opportunity to get an education. Least we can do is study our butts off and wreck these tests. And we shall, right wolves?
-2
LISTER TO BLACK MAN WITH POINTY FINGER. GATOR DON'T MESS AROUND. GATOR NEVA MESS AROUND!
-4
[deleted]
-16
BUT IF I WILL WORK I WON'T HAVE TIME TO STUDY
ALSO FUCK YOU
-18
THANKS BLACK GUY!
[deleted]
This just in, Stythe has found a direct connection between racism and karma.
?
How is that racist?
'Racist' is a tricky word. It doesn't necessarily mean Stythe is a douche bag.
One way that was racist is that it fits the pattern of identifying by race instead of other attributes. Though this picture isnt' VERY distinctive, it could have been THANKS LIBRARY GUY or THANKS FINGER MAN. It's likely that if the OP had been white, the 'default', no comment would have been made on his race.
Again, racism doesn't have to mean hatred or even prejudice. This may just be an artifact of how we tend to subconsciously categorize. But any kind persistent cultural categorization like this can lead to reinforcing prejudices, and eventually hatred.
A minor example: Below somebody requested a version of this with Samuel L. Jackson, but why him and not some other intimidating figure? I suspect (with no need for condemnation) that the 'black' label was carried over in the mental search for alternatives. Here it's probably no big deal, but little things like this added up over millions of interactions are why a lot of the really weird ideas are able to persist.
TL;DR: It's actually hard not to be racist.
Wait, are people really analyzing this? Aww, you guuuys...
He said guy, is that sexist? Oh god...how do I be P.C. about this? You, there, uhm person in a green shirt. With the finger..wait is that speciest?
All I did was type a word, you're the one being a dick about it.
joke /jōk/ Noun:
A thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter
The darkness is spreading!