IMPROVE YOUR ATTENTION SPAN
AND TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE!
Since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world last year, many things have gotten shorter, like school days and our patience. But perhaps the main thing that’s grown shorter for all of us is our attention spans. In 2019, researchers from the Technical University of Denmark reported that our collective attention span is indeed narrowing — and it may be because we’re bombarded with tons of information that we don’t want to “miss out” on, whether we’re scrolling through Facebook or finding new videos on YouTube. Unfortunately, a poor attention span can affect us in many ways. It may impact our performance at school or work or cause communication difficulties in relationships. It may even result in poor health related to self-neglect and an inability to practice healthy habits.
How do you fix it? Is it even possible to improve your attention span? Yes, you can! But it will take time. Here are a few ways you can get started. First, accept that you may make yourself a little mentally uncomfortable while expanding your attention span. It simply won’t feel natural to focus on a single task for a longer period of time than normal, but, with a routine, it’ll get more comfortable as time goes on. Second, give the Pomodoro method a try. Named after a tomato-shaped timer that its creator used, the Pomodoro method has gained a lot of attention over the years as a brain workout, and it’s a great way to slowly expand your attention span while accomplishing tasks.
your attention span will allow). Work on your task for 25 minutes straight. Then, take a five-minute break. After the break, repeat the process. After four rounds, take a break of 15–20 minutes. Congratulations, you’ve used the Pomodoro method, which you can repeat as many times as you want. It’s very handy for getting your tasks finished in a flash, despite any attention span issues! Third, meditate, work out, or adopt new educational interests. Anything that keeps your brain, body, and spirit engaged can help you learn how to focus better. There’s plenty of research that shows the benefits of meditation and exercise to your focus — the trick is exploration. Not every form of meditation, exercise routine, or hobby will work for you, so don’t give up right away! Stay curious and keep exploring.
To get started, think of a small task. Then, set a timer to 25 minutes (or longer, if
WHISLER CLIENT TAMARA DAWES TARGETS HUMAN TRAFFICKING THE M J SCARLETT FOUNDATION
We consider ourselves
Tamara’s M J Scarlett Foundation (look them up on Facebook!) provides awareness training, public and private education, and many other services that help people avoid human trafficking — a problem endemic to South Florida. Many people feel like they aren’t at risk for human trafficking, but that isn’t the case. In the United States, the vast majority of victims are youths between the ages of 12 and 17, making children a particular point of interest for Tamara. She also knows that being homeless makes many in our community vulnerable, and the M J Scarlett foundation also tries to help the homeless population in any way it can. When you’re on the street, offers of food or a warm place to sleep can entice people into bad situations, and that’s something Tamara works with local organizations to prevent.
But the scariest number Tamara cites is “1%” — the percentage of human trafficking victims who are rescued. Recovering these people is important, but the fact is that it’s very hard to do. Instead, the focus has to be on education. Right now, that education is taking place online via Zoom — read on for info on how to attend! In order to do this work, Tamara Dawes has received human trafficking credentials, youth mental health certifications, and other credentials — in addition to her own master’s and pending doctorate degrees! We’re so proud to have someone like her in our community and especially in the Whisler family. Please look up the foundation on Facebook or find them at MJScarlettFoundationInc.org and get educated on the perils our children face. Then, join Whisler Law Firm and get involved!
community members in every sense of the word. Several years ago, Tamara Dawes, a woman in our community, lost her daughter in tragic circumstances that nevertheless brought her into our offices. Tamara has taken her daughter’s precious memory and her name and begun a foundation focused on educating at-risk people about human trafficking. We are happy to feature Tamara in this issue and are so proud to know hardworking people like her.
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