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Week 5 [12.11-17.11.19] How to get your brain to focus?


How to get your brain to focus?
Nowadays we have a lot of staff that consumes our time. This leads to losing focus for important things.Also we don't rest enough what leads us to stop being creative. Most of the time we look at different sizes screens, spend useless, harmfully our time. I know that probably all of us have this problem “How to get my brain to focus”. Let’s watch the video with Chris's talk about this.


1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?

Comments

Anna Koca said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
Yes, I do that as often as I can. I love independence and not being attached to devices. I have no problem with such rehab, I would even say I am much more happy without telephone or computer. I start to use time wisely and more productive.

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
The most boring thing I did many times is to wait for something on my computer to process. I hate starting new task in the middle of another task. That is why I always have to wait and get bored while loading.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
Cleaning is such activity which let me think about sense of all my life and analyze everyday situations and problems. It doesn't require my full attention and helps me relax and calm down.
1. I tried to live without a telephone, but without success. I am addicted to the telephone and I am aware of that. However, I don't think a phone is just a waste of time. The phone is used to keep in touch with the world, study or work. Even this comment is written on the phone. I think laziness is not caused by the device, but by the human character.

2.In my opinion, the worst thing to do is do nothing. When I do nothing I just lie down - then I think that I am wasting my potential. Of course, someone can say I'm wrong, but I think it's better to do something than nothing.

3. I think listening to radio broadcasts is such an activity. I often listen to broadcasts during work, they never absorb my attention.
s15385 said…
1. Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
I've never tried get rid of my phone because I want to be in touch with family and friends. I've tried stop using social media like Facebook or Instagram for a few days to reset my mind.

2. What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
Waiting in queue to the doctor in a hospital. It takes so long and always looks the same - staring at one point.

3. What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
Music doesn't consume my full attention. I often learn while listening to music.
Damian Drozd said…
1. I've never tried to get rid of my phone, I've removed social media apps though. It has definitely revolutionised my life. I don't check my phone for notifications, use it much less what's confirmed by weekly reports results.

2. I would say that doing nothing is the most boring thing that I can think of. For example standing in line, traffic jams, and so on.

3. Some minimal house or classical music which I really often listen while programming. This type of music help me concentrate and focus my mind on problem solving.
Yay, i hate wait any of process on my computer too, loading IDEA fro example when billion tabs in chrome is killing me at all, XD.
I don't like cleaning, but i like wash dishes when i stressed or want to calm down=)
Have a nice day
Maybe you are right. I have situation when i deleted a game on my phone, but installed the same one on the computer and started spend more time in front of my computer playing that game, conclusion is that telephone wasn't my problem but a game was.
Oh, i love listen broadcasts, they don't distract me too, even sometimes i come up with some ideas while listening and doing something.
Have a nice day.
I've deleted all social media apps except messenger and similar apps. Because i couldn't help myself with them. Too hard for me not scrolling ton's of news, publications etc. etc. So i left only apps that really helps get in touch with somebody, not following their life in social media. Maybe it could help you too.
Queue is the one of the most bad thing that can happen with you. I know one "God's" rule, the queue next to you will be always moving faster than your, XD.
Have a nice day.
I use weekly reports on my telephone for checking how much time consumed by each app i use. Very useful feature.
I like listen jazz music, or lofi hip hop radio on youtube. It helps me concentrate when i programming too.
Have a nice day.
Kuba Berliński said…

1. No, I haven't. I've never felt such need and nor I've thought I should limit the usage. It is up to a person whether they should/need take such steps or not.

2. I think watching snail race would be quite boring. Especially if it was some longer distance.

3. Usually it is listening to audiobooks. It doesn't consume full attention of yours, while being entertained in a specific way.
Maciej Sadoś said…
1. Not for more that a half of a day I think. But I always try to reduce my usage of a phone (often with no success :)). Anyway I also consider it as a problem that I spend too much time on a phone. It is so tempting to do just something other that doing nothing.. But often doing nothing could release your thoughts and make you think about something new and feel like you have more time.

2. Hmm.. I think for me the most boring thing, and something I hate for some reason, is waiting for something, for a train for example. I prefer to do something to be at the destination on the least possible moment to not spend my time waiting. It's strange now when I wrote it 😅

3. Riding a bike for example. I just relax and get calm and it isn't something that require my attention. Cleaning is also such a thing for me.
1. Absolutely not! I know that if I got rid of the phone I would be cut off from the world. I would not know what is going on in the world, I would not have contact with friends. Unless someone would pay e.g. a million euros for cutting off electronics for a month, who knows, haha: D

2. It seems to me that a quarrel of two stupid women about some funny and stupid thing? :D Or it can even be funny. All in all I don't know.

3. Swimming, definitely. I love swimming and it requires a lot of concentration. While swimming, I focus only on the correct work of my whole body muscles and nothing else. I am fully focused then, nothing distracts me, and at the same time I rest mentally.
1. It was a period in my life when I on purpose get rid of my phone for some time. Nothing bothers you and life seems to have less problems. Nowadays I think it is possible although it can get you in a lot of troubles. Life is going fast and you never know what will happen or when you will be in need.

2. Everything that consumes my time without any specific reason, like traffic jams or waiting in line. I literally hate it and try to avoid it as much as possible.


3. I love riding a bike and just observe the surrounding environment, it’s very relaxing and mind opening. It has a positive impact on my body as well. Also, while listening to the music I can focus on many other things.
Piotr Bednarek said…
1. No I haven't. In my opinion it's useless, because I use phone on order to stay in touch with my family and friends. In addionion I treat phone as a newspaper or TV.

2. Cleaning house is the most boring thing for me. Therefore I cook and my girlfriend clean a house. I think that this division of duties is equal.

3. When I listen to symphonic music I can let my mind wander. This kind of music is perfectly composed to relax, heal, learn or even sleep
Marta Matysik said…
1. In some way, yes. But it resulted from the situation. I was away where there was no network so there was no internet, text messages or calling. We used the phone for a week maybe 2 times. Phone was just a camera.
2. I have no idea. Maybe everything what makes me feel that I’m losing my time and that I have to do but I really don’t want.
3. I think these are music, some lectures, landscape outside the train window.
Dawid Piotrak said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
For a day or a couple of days on vacations - yes. But on a daily basis not so much.

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
Attending some of the lectures that we had throughout the past 3 years. Some of them were just unbearable for me.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
My mind is usually wandering and dreaming whenever i commute and during listening to music.
1. Looks like you are strong enough, i'm glad, that you don't need take such steps=)
2. I remember once i watched this, you know, it was quite fun) Nice idea.
3. I like listen to audio-books, but can't do anything else while listening, but i know few people like you listen them on background.
Have a nice day.
Maciej Szczypek said…
1. Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
I really do not remember getting rid of the telephone completely for more than a day. I haven't really tried it yet. I also don't feel the need to do that. There are of course days when I almost do not use the telephone, those are most often the days when I am on holiday.

2. What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
Waiting in the queue is what comes to my mind as first.

3. What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
There are so many things: riding a bike, running, listening to any music without words or even cleaning a house.
1. I repeat it to myself every time "doing nothing could release my thoughts", but can't help myself. I continue wasting my time, XD
2. Hah, I understand you very well, I don't like waiting for something too.
3. Cool, riding a bike is awesome. I see that cleaning helps most of the people. Thank you for sharing.
Have a nice day.
1. Heh, i see your point. Maybe if you try to take a pause and cut yourself off from the world, i'm sure you'll be surprised by the results.
2. Hehe, too funny )
3. Swimming is very cool. I do physical exercises to rest too. Very helpful approach.
Have a nice day
1. Good point, thank you for sharing, I'll take this into account for myself, you are right about "life is going fast".
2. Haha, as most of us, we all hate waiting in line, traffic jams etc. Good one)
3. This is cool, I really happy that you do riding, this is an awesome thing to rest and let our mind wander.
Have a nice day.
1. Nice to hear that you don't have problems with telephone and control yourself, i'm not like you(
2. I see, you have a good partner. I don't like cleaning house too(
3. Thank you, I'll try this too.
Have a nice day.
I think you had a good time without a telephone) In some comments i see people use music to let mind wander, i need to try. Thank you for sharing.

Have a nice day.
Lectures, oh yeah.... I understand you very well. Music, nice one) What kind of music do you like to listen for this:?
This comment has been removed by the author.
I don't like queues as well.
Nice set of things. We have in common one thing the running)
Have a nice day.
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
Maybe for a day or two. A phone for me is a basic source of contact with friends when I'm at home. I don't want to interrupt contact with them just because I use the phone too much.

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
hahaha funny question. Hmm ... the most boring thing for others that I can think of at the moment is how I can finish the renovation of the apartment.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
Certainly watching or reading boring things for me. Listening to conversations on topics that don't interest me.
Many times I haven't touched and used my phone for a long time. I don't belong to people who can't live without a telephone. The only thing I do on the phone is to call, write sms, use messanger, maps and calendar. I don't use the telephone for anything else on a daily basis.
There seems to be no such thing as boredom. We can't think of anything in a boring situation, so it's not the world and things are boring, but we are too lazy or not creative enough.
There are a lot of activities, which don't consume all of my concentration like listening to music or podcasts, running, walking with my dog, etc.
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
I sometimes leave my phone home on purpose just to free from it for a moment. I have never try to leave it for longer period of time.

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
I hate standing in a queue. Probably standing in a queue for a long period without telephone or a companion to talk to.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
Doing sport like driving a bike without a destiation, going to gym or running.
Kristina Moroz said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
Yes, I tried this so many times. From time to time it's really good to get rid of phones or computer for some time.

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
The most boring is to wait something or someone. I always try to keep myself busy with something. So I'm not get angry because of waisting time.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
I guess cleaning, listening music, drawing, travel by car or any other way. This all calming down and made think about something with no pressure. Sometimes there is a problem solving thoughts.
I have done this many times and never had any feeling of needing it back. Many people mistake addiction with normal evolution of civilization and need of information. The most boring activity I can think of is going for shopping with someone else. I hate to wait because someone can't choose one thing over another and waste my time because of it. I really like listening music while doing everyday things. I would say it even gives me more focus.
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
No i never did but i will most certainly try

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
I as sitting now for like five minutes and i sincerly have no idea what is the activity that bores me to death, maybe setting up a tent when i go on a vacations with my friends but really nothing comes up to my mind right now.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
For me it's playing World of tanks, it's the most relaxing activity for me to do.
Yubin said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
I couldn't do so before, but when I get older, now I usually do so, I am more happy with such natural life, you don't need to post anything on purpose when there is actually nothing special to post, and "Like" each other‘s post as stereotype everyday, we save more time to do more useful things without phones, also I am using some old phone like 200zl which can't play games and so on but only contact with friends, if anyone want to get rid of phone, start with old phones like Nokia(I swear it is not an advertisement haha)

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
It should be doing something I don't like but I have to do, for example, why project management is compulsory subject when all other programming subjects are not?..
I graduated from management major which I extremly dislike so I change to study IT now, but I meet compulsory management subjects again...:)

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
I think it should be playing guitar, before studying in PJA, I spent most time with my guitar everyday, sometimes I both doing something not required too much attention and practicing guitar.
Ivan Mazuryk said…
1. Yeap, when I went to my grandfather for a week, and there was no connection, so my phone was useless.

2. Ohh, my work, I believe. Also, watching TV ads, sitting in a waiting room/waiting for someone, paying bills, waiting in for a delivery and dozens of other boring things from which our life consist of.

3. Mariju... I mean listening to relaxing music and go to the gym of course.
1. Yes, I tried it last weekend. It wasn't tough, I had one or two situations where i just looked at my phone to check time.

2. I think waiting, just for anything really. Every time i have to wait for something whether it's something on my computer or waiting for my meal in a restaurant i always feel bored.

3. My attention is consumed because of my lack of sleep lately, I can't focus on something for more than couple minutes before i start thinking about different things
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
I have once accidentally broke my phone and it just stopped working. I went a week without any phone before I bought a new one. I found that experience very freeing and would recommend it to anyone to try and live without their phone for some time
2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
Fishing in a very calm lake for hours sounds very boring to me and I’d rather do anything else but that

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
Listening to music doesn’t consume all of my attention and can be a great way to relax your brain and look at life from a different perspective.
I've tried so many times. Putting the phone down in my case is impossible (work), but if I could I would happily do it

2. Tasks from work that make sense to me, but for business already.

3.Watching TV , sleeping :)?, watching stupid videos on youtube,

I have a big problem with concentration and unfortunately I don't know how to deal with it, because of this I lose a lot of valuable time
1. I have never tried and I don't think I should.

2. For me, the most boring are those at which I'm not learning and are not serving any higher purpose.

3. I think these are standard things like listening to music, commuting via public transport, meditation or performing repetitive duties.
Szymon Kluczek said…
1. Yes, I have. Some time ago I decided to carry out the experiment so I got rid of my telephone for 2 weeks and to my astonishment, I have to admit that the results were very good. Without a mobile phone I felt much better. I had much more free time for everything, for study, for my hobbies, books and also for friends, what’s more I felt very relaxed all the time. Amazingly lack of telephone let me reduce the level of stress, it was a real release!

2. The most boring thing is definitively bus ride for more than 4 hours. There aren’t any source of entertainment such as television or radio, also very often mobile phones have no reception during the journey so you can’t use social media. There is very little space in the bus so you can’t even go for a small walk to uncurl your legs. In my opinion such tours are really tiring and boring.

3. I think the activity that doesn’t consume my full attention is cooking. While preparing a meal I can think about different stuff I don’t have to be full focused only on cooking. That’s the reason why I like cooking so much, during that I can relax, go over different things, decisions, talks etc., or I can also talk on the phone with my friend or listen to the radio broadcast. It’s not a problem for me to do something else besides cooking at the same time.
Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
Honestly never. But there were situations when I left my smartphone at home and it was terrible situation. Nowadays, It became normal situation when people are addicted to gadgets and It's really sad.
2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
The most boring one is when I realize that I spend my time not wisely. Also I don't like routine, the work that repeats mostly.
3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
It's some kind of ambiguous question ;)
If seriously, no matter how corny it sounds, but when I sleep. Also when I play guitar, listening music, watching movie. These kind of things makes me relax from whole problems and world
1) As I am very connected with nature person, as soon as I get surrounded by natural areas I completely forget about my phone. Situation changes when I need to spend time among a lot of people or travelling through town. Sadly it's most of the time, that I have to spend in city center because of my university and place of residence. In urban areas i almost all the time stick my nose to phone screen. Watching videos, listening to music, scrolling a lot of photos, it all makes me feel little less stressed by all the big town fuss. I'm afraid as long as I live here I'm quite addicted to my phone.

2) The most boring thing i can think of would be definitely sticking to daily routine. It's something I had to go through while working full time job. Waking up every day the same hour driving by the same bus going to the same building for 8 hours than comming back home feeling absolutelly exhausted.

3) It depends mostly on my mood. It can be listening to some particular music (mostly instrumental, without lyrics), can be drawing sometimes (but only works without some special meaning in them, like some landscapes or aesthetic abstractions, where i just let my hand flow freely on papar). But in the most mind-wandering mood I probably get while long (and i mean many kilometers long) walks.
Cem Ates said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
Sadly I can't even get rid off it even for a second due to my side hustle jobs depends on it.

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
Stare at the school clock. Waiting. Watching. Wishing it was over. we all have done it at least once do not deny it.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention?
Probably, listening musics while cooking.
Maybe there are any other ways to keep contact with your friends?)
Renovation is a such headache, I understand you)
Hah. I've never thought about this, maybe because it doesn't work on me. When I listen or watch something I can't do anything.
Thank you for reading, have a nice day.
Glad to hear this, you better manage your time than me) Well, maybe you are right, it's all about our laziness and creativity and boredom doesn't exist. I'll keep this in my mind)
Thank you for reading, have a nice day!
s15052 said…
1. No, I have never tried and I don't think it would help me to focus. I don't have any problem with phone addiction. If I don't need to use it - I don't use it.
2. Hmmm most boring thing? I think the most boring thing is pretending to be doing something. You sit at work, did all the tasks and still have half workday.
3. Listening to the music or eating good food :)
Hey, Filip, i do sometimes like you, leaving this hell thing at home) I can't help myself with a long period of time, impossible)
Queue, the most hated thing as i see)
You spend your time very cool, glad about you)
Thank you for reading, have a nice day)
Thank you very much for you comment! I think you had a good time with your grandfather=)
Work?) I trust you as no one else, deeply understand what are you talking about)
Mar...Sure, relaxing music)
Have a nice day)
Why do you think that you shouldn't try:?)
Hoho, so you are real developer and can't waste your time:?)
Well, maybe standard, but they work)
Thank you for reading, have a nice day
Mehmet KONUK said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
No, I never tried to get away. I just stopped using social media like Facebook or Instagram for a few days.
2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
You could sit out of the house all day doing nothing.
3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
I usually listens to audio books. While being entertained in a certain way, it does not fully use your attention.
s15487 said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more ?
No I don't, but I think phone is not a toy for wasting time on social apps. I generally use a phone for calling, listening to podcast, audiobooks, watching stock exchange fluctuations, observing flight bargains and navigating. I can use a phone to listening to podcasts while I wash dishes or eat, so maybe it increases distraction but sometimes it helps with increasing productivity.

2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
There are so many boring things that it's difficult to choose just one :) I think that waiting in a queue in a shop or government agency is a quite boring thing.. on the other hand, you can listen to podcast during that.

3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
I would say that walking, eating and preparing food are great opportunities to make additional things simultaneously, like listen to podcasts or audiobooks.
Mykyta Smirnov said…
1) Have you ever trying to get rid of the telephone for a few days or maybe week or more?
Yeah, I'd turned off my smartphone on my vacation and it was a wonderful time that I'd spent at natureside.
2) What is the most boring thing that you can think of doing?
For me anything that I'm not interested in is boring, but mostly I don't like things that are just time-consuming. For example waiting or routine things.
3) What is let your mind wander, that doesn’t consume your full attention ?
Listening to music, watching anime and films, cooking, playing my guitar might be combined and done simultaneously
Vitalii Ohol said…
1. Yes, I have done this "activity" a couple of times and found that this is the worst thing I can imagine. Most of my tasks connected to university, hobby, and productivity in general tightly connected with workflow on my phone. I tried to replace a phone with my laptop or non-digital analogs and found out that I'm less and less productive without my phone. So as a person who has empty social network accounts and uses it only for messaging, and an introvert who tries very hard to not interact with other people, I concluded that phone makes my life more productive and has very little with distractions.

2. The most boring thing I made about three days ago. I needed to read ~300 pages of forum thread about re-compiling system kernel without source codes to find an answer to one question. And it was the most boring thing in my life. Believe me, it would be more exciting to read a 20-page agreement to the nonexistent product.

3. I have a special music playlist with songs that don't consume my attention. I use them when I'm trying to concentrate or calm down and relax. They are often used when I want to solve a hard problem or when I can't fall asleep.
1) I have tried every time I am on holiday. It is my free time, when I dont use my phone. I love this time. I am very calm and I enjoy the views and time with family or friends. Every time I am asking my friends about doing the same, but they are too addicted in my opinion. Mostly I am getting rid of my phone for a week.

2) I think the most boring thing is counting things in the shop. Once I was helping my friend and I was counting plastic bags in the shop. It was a terrible time.

3) Listening to music, cleaning or running. For example these things dont consume my full attention. I can easly do many other things like learning or watching something.
s15740 said…
1) Nope. I use phone to make or receive calls, not to spend time in socials.
2) As it was stated above – doing nothing. It`s not only boring thing, but also very harmful. Doing nothing makes time fly very fast.
3) I think it`s thinking)). Not when you think about some specific thing, but a free flight threw the corridor of imagination. When you start your thought from one question and get answer, very easy and relaxed, to another.

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