Question

Have you ever intended to be fully absorbed in your work but found yourself distracted (走神) by e-mail, the Internet and other things throughout the day? According to the survey made by a famous university in the USA, most people have the experience.

“People often l1.their concentration when they are bored, of course, but also when they are engaged in challenging tasks,” says Peter Bregman, the head of the survey. “They sometimes have a feeling to e2. from what’s difficult or boring, so they jump out,” he says. The part of the brain devoted to attention is connected to the brain’s emotional center. Any strong emotion-quarrels with colleagues, problems at home -can i3.our attention. Studies over the last decade have shown that too much work to do at a time can easily lead to distraction.

Refocusing is hard for many people. Robert Epstein suggests the f4., “Stop and listen to some soft music for a few minutes. Find a good friend or a teacher and say out your matter on your mind. Go for a short walk or take a deep breath, where you breathe in deeply, count to five slowly hold it and breathe out very slowly. This can blow out all the tension and the unwanted in your mind to restore your focus.”

Take more control by structuring your time and becoming more aware of your behaviors. “Setting the phone a5.to go off every hour is my way of creating awareness,” Mr. Bregman says. “You have to inform yourself that you’ve lost focus in order to do something about it.” Starting the day with a to-do list is also important, such as when to eat, when to go to the gym or take a walk. But if it’s overly ambitious, you will put yourself in a s6.of anxiety, which makes it hard for the brain to concentrate. “Choosing three or four things as your priority (优先) for the day a7.your brain to settle down and focus,” he says.

Answer 1