People often come to meditation as a solution for how to focus and avoid distractions. In a world where digital devices, social media, and advertising are everywhere, it's getting more difficult to focus.
In this article we cover what the root of this issue is, and how meditation can help, as well as the science of meditation through the lens of neuroscientist Andrew Huberman.
Understanding the Distraction Epidemic
It's no secret that the digital world, with all it's benefits, has a "dark side" when it comes to our attention spans. If we're not careful, these tools which were designed to help us, can end up harming us.
It's something that effects all of us, with rise of ADD globally in the past 10 years, and the Australian Government even providing guidelines for screentime with children.
But people don't always want to turn to medication and these days are looking for more natural remedies to help - and meditation is one of the best.
How the Mind Works Related to Focus and Distractions
The mind is an accumulation of the past - all of your experiences have been stored in your brain. In a way, we're like robots, and the programming is the life we have lived, as well as the habits we have inherited from our ancestors and the body.
Therefore, if you have a lot of distractions and can't focus, it's because you have lived in this way, and have nurtured that mind by strengthening those neural pathways in your brain - so it's easy for you to keep getting distracted and lose your focus.
But despite that, thanks to neuroplasticity you can change your mind through meditation.
If you think about it from this context, would you rather mask the issue with medication, or would you rather a natural remedy that cure the problems at the source?
The Science of Meditation Andrew Huberman
Andrew Huberman is a big advocate of easily accessible solutions to help with the brain. In the video below he presents the types of behaviours, nutrients and habits we can live with to help us improve our focus by explaining the science behind them.
He advocates for a simple 13 minute meditation that you can do on your own every day, and the science behind the impact of meditation on the brains neurology.
Getting Started With Meditation
Starting something new can be daunting, especially if you don't know much about it. In this article we present the different types of meditations so you can find one that resonates with your current life goals.
Once you've taken a look at that, a simple process to get you started:
1) Make up your mind that you will do it
2) Find a good place to do your meditation
3) Set a regular schedule to build the habit
4) Be consistent
5) Keep going no matter what
6) If you are meditating online, turn off your notifications
7) If you can't focus or get distracted while meditating then that's PERFECT and that's exactly what you want to work through :)
Guided Meditation You Can Try Today - How to Focus and Avoid Distractions
We have a 10 minute guided meditation on our YouTube channel that you can follow along with, and if you want to take it to the next level, you can even book a free guided meditation session with us.
Remember, as you do this, your mind will conjure up exactly what's in it, so we want to re-emphasize - if you get distracted and lose focus, then that's perfect.
Keep working through it and discard them from the mind, and over time as you continue to practice, your mind will change.
This is exactly how to improve your focus and avoid distractions - by strengthening your mind.
Conclusion
The world is full of distractions that steal our focus, but it's also full of knowledge and wisdom to help us if we look in the right places.
If you are looking for a natural remedy to help with your focus and concentration, meditation is one of the best practices you can do, and we're glad Andrew Huberman agrees!