My main weakness

The Science Behind Concentration

In the above account, Mike?s obviously stuck in a routine that many of us may have found ourselves in, yet in the moment we feel it?s almost an impossible routine to get out of. Many fall into this pattern because constantly shifting attention and multitasking eases the pain of doing something you hate in the first place. We mitigate essays and projects with blasts of dopamine delivered through tweets, music and gossip.What science tells us, though, is that not only does multitasking make our work 50% less valuable; it takes 50% longer to finish. Plus, it?s physiologically impossible for the brain to multitask.

When we constantly multitask to get things done, we?re not multitasking, we?re rapidly shifting our attention. And this rapid shifting kills the mind, it waters its effectiveness down significantly. When we follow Mike?s pattern above, the mind shifts through three phases:

Phase 1: Blood Rush Alert

When Mike decides to start writing his History essay, blood rushes to his anterior prefrontal cortex. Within this part of the brain, sits a neurological switchboard. The switchboard alerts the brain that it?s about to shift concentration.