Ever have that feeling your mind is fading? You know what I mean, that misplaced your keys, can’t find your phone, lost your slip-on sandals, kind of morning.
It’s a bit unsettling, isn’t it?
For most of us, the solution is simple – cut down on screen time.
In “Peak Mind,” by Amishi Jha, PhD, details the latest in brain research and says, “What we think is a memory problem is often an attention problem.”
In Jha’s research they found our phones, our I-Pads, our laptops make us susceptible to distraction and the false belief we can multitask effectively. What we call multitasking is actually task switching. Even taking pictures on vacation robs us of valuable memories with loved ones because focusing on taking the perfect picture blurs what’s happening around us.
Jha adds, “what we pay attention to is what we remember, and what we remember will influence what we pay attention to – and therefore what else we remember.”
Attention works like all your other muscles, the more you use them, the stronger those muscles get. Use them effectively, and you’ll strengthen recall, processing power, and yes, remembering where you put those car keys.
What a great way to begin the week: Challenge yourself to stay focused on what you’re doing – while you’re doing it. I know it’s hard, but try placing your phone out of reach, cutting down on iPad usage, and shutting down your laptop when you can.
And just think, your Pilates practice is a great opportunity to keep building your muscles, the muscles of awareness and the muscles of your body all getting stronger all in one short hour.
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