Losing Train of Thoughtĥ Common Distractions and How to Overcome Them This alarming statistic highlights the importance of understanding the factors that contribute to losing our train of thought and finding effective ways to combat them. In fact, a study conducted by Microsoft found that the average human attention span is now only 8 seconds, which is shorter than that of a goldfish. Recent studies have shown that the average person’s attention span has significantly decreased over the past decade. Moreover, certain factors like stress, fatigue, and multitasking can exacerbate this issue, making it even more challenging to stay on track. This sensory overload can make it difficult to concentrate on a single task or thought, leading our minds to wander and lose focus. In today’s fast-paced world, we are constantly bombarded with information and stimuli that compete for our attention. Understanding the root causes of these distractions is crucial for developing strategies to counteract them and maintain mental clarity. These interruptions can stem from various sources, such as technological devices, sudden noises, or even our own wandering thoughts. Losing our train of thought is often a result of internal and external distractions that interfere with our ability to focus. “You can literally take 30 seconds and close your eyes and start to focus on your breathing.What Causes Us to Lose Our Train of Thought? “The core of this brain hack is understanding that you can interrupt a distracting thought with a meditation, and it doesn’t have to involve three hours in lotus pose,” Wendy Suzuki, Ph.D., author of Healthy Brain, Happy Life (due out this spring), tells SELF. Then follow your breath, from the moment the air touches your nostrils as you inhale, feeling it fill up your chest and belly, and as it leaves your body as you exhale, noticing if the air feels warmer or colder.Take one deep breath to settle yourself.“Allow yourself to be there with the sounds,” Goldberg says. Then close your eyes and notice the sounds around you, whether that’s a baby crying, horns honking, or your coworkers banging away on their keyboards.First look around and notice where you are.This 2-minute mini-meditation from Goldberg is an easy go-to anytime you need to get a handle on an out-of-control mind: And the more you practice it, the better you'll get at noticing when you need to do it. The following technique can help you regain control of your thoughts. Goldberg likens it to juggling: “You can’t have a busy mind and juggle at the same time. “So,” Cox explains, “if you move your attention to physical sensations, like the soles of your feet as you walk, your breath, or your seat in the chair, you physically can’t ruminate.” One of those connections-between the prefrontal cortex, which plays a big role in complex thought (and therefore also in rumination), and the amygdala, your brain’s emotional center-gets interrupted when you activate a part of the brain called the insula that processes information about the state of your body. Thinking involves many different parts of your brain in a pretty complex network of connections. Related: 36 Things Every Woman Should Know How To Do By The Time She Turns 30 You can break the cycle of rumination by noticing your thoughts, then shifting your attention to something physical instead.
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