Understanding Attention

Generally, as we learn, we can hold about 5+ pieces of information at the same time in our attention or in our short term memory.

1. hold the steering wheel
2. push more on the gas
3. track the speedometer to keep it at 50k
4. scan far ahead to see the green changing to yellow
5. track the lines on the sides to ensure one keeps the car in the proper lane

Failures come when you try and hold more items than your attention can handle. For example, the instructor starts talking to you while you are doing these 5 things.

All of a sudden you are speeding. Why?

1. hold the steering wheel
2. push more on the gas
3. the instructor starts talking vs track the speedometer to keep it at 50k
4. scan far ahead to see the green changing to yellow
5. track the lines on the sides to ensure one keeps the car in the proper lane

So Then How Does One Improve And Grow?

The answer is mainly time. Plus providing information at the speed at which your attention can handle. Do not overload.

In time your brain, eyes and body will adapt to the new and start to merge items into one, effectively freeing up attention for new learnings.

1. hold the steering wheel & push more on the gas & track the lines on the sides to ensure one keeps the car in the proper lane
2. track the speedometer to keep it at 50k
3. scan far ahead to see the green changing to yellow
4. NEW LEARNING
5. NEW LEARNING

Take a stressful time like driving on a road test. If you give away 2 of the 5 pieces of attention to the examiner because you are nervous or because the examiner is writing furiously on the paper, you may not have enough of the attention to totally focus and handle the driving requirements.

Realize that your attention has a limit. Exceeding this limit can produce failure.

Understanding attention is important.