Interesting sources for Inquiry Essay


               One source that I found very interesting was a news article published in a newspaper titled Independent.  The article talks about 15 ways to stay focused, according to scientists.  These are people that I can “bring to my table” because they know what they are talking about when it comes to focus.  One of the ways suggested to focus better was to minimize multitasking.  This might seem very straightforward, but an interesting fact that I learned is that out of a sample of 100 Stanford students that went through a series of tests to examine attention spans, memory capacity, and ability to switch from one task to the next- the multitaskers performed more poorly on each test.

               Did you know that exercise isn’t just good for the body, but it also helps with memory capacity and concentration according to John Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.  “In particular, scientists think regular exercise may help stimulate the release of a chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which some research suggests helps rewire memory circuits to improve their functioning.”  How cool is that?

               Another source that I found interesting was a blog from mindvalley.  The blog is titled, How To Focus When You’re Distracted: 4 Proven Ways To Concentrate Better.  An interesting suggestion that I learned from this blog is to train your willpower muscle.  You have to train yourself to be more disciplined.  It won’t be easy but it will be worth it.  “If you overcome resistance daily by challenging yourself in small ways, you’ll see a gradual change in the right direction.”  There are some suggestions that follow to help you challenge yourself like waking up earlier, saying no to junk food, or cleaning the house when it is not your turn.

               I actually never considered meditation as a way to improve your focus but after reading about it, it makes sense.  Mediation can be a great tool to help improve your concentration.  “It is important to clear all distractions, find a quiet place, and leave behind any other thoughts.”  For the rest of the section on meditation, it offers tips and advice on how to properly mediate.  Meditation was mentioned in both sources that I found, which is both helpful and interesting.  

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