Monday, June 17, 2013

Improve Attention Span







Attention span is often related to children more than adults. There are many studies that deal with attention span in children, fewer having to do with adults. Take this quote by The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: "Cross-sectional research has suggested that television viewing may be associated with decreased attention spans in children." The study, in short, proved by the age of 7 some children were losing attention span. This article will deal with the broader picture of attention, less as it relates just to children, and more on how anyone can defeat the problem.


Instructions


1. Watching TV: If children's attention span can be harmed by television, why can't adults? In a USA Today article, it was pointed out that children under 2 shouldn't watch TV. There is much more to the article, including points that there hasn't been a lot of study on the problems with attention span. There have been plenty on children, but far fewer studies on adults. According to many studies, the average American watches 5 hours of TV a day. So, as an observation, perhaps watching less TV could help attention spans, just as much in children as adults.


2. Allow yourself other escapes. The problem is, TV is one of the more popular escapes. The other problem is, it often requires little thinking. So perhaps you could change exactly what you do when you come home from work. Instead of watching television, read a book. Health escapes make you think. Even certain television could be a healthy escape.


3. See if it's a family problem. Many diseases are linked throughout a family, including mental problems like depression. It wouldn't be a reach to say attention span problems within adults can be passed down to children, who grow up with poor attention spans. We are creatures of habit by nature, so it doesn't even have to be a problem passed down, but one that is encouraged throughout life.


4. Take action. To start moving toward increasing attentions span, you will need to take action. In a post on Wikihow, it's proposed that movement itself can lead to increased attention span. This means positive activities instead of negative ones. It means exercising, in short, because it can help you think.


5. Use activities. Take part in more activities, like going for walks or playing card games. Anything that makes you think can help attention span.

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