OVERCOMING INATTENTION
STRATEGIES TO FIGHT DISTRACTION
With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it
takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted.
you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done. Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault. Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure.
But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low-tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help.
And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when
FIGHTING CHRONIC INFLAMMATION
YOUR DIET IMPACTS YOUR BODY’S RESPONSE
As the saying goes, you are what you eat. By this, we don’t mean that eating a cookie or two will pile on the excess weight. Experts have proven that eating a healthy and balanced diet affects much more than just our body weight, such as the way our body heals, responds to stimuli, and fights illness. Inflammation is part of your body’s natural response to certain stimuli as part of the healing process. Inflammation can occur after a tough workout when your muscles are working to recover, while your immune system is trying to fight off an infection, or due to injury. Sometimes, even if you’re just too stressed out, your body may react by retaining water and swelling.
Chronic inflammation, or inflammation that is persistent and goes untreated, can lead to larger health problems including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other health concerns and complications. To keep inflammation at a minimum and reduce your risk of chronic inflammation, making good dietary choices is paramount. Professionals recommend focusing on foods with a high nutritional value that are rich in antioxidants and include healthy fats. Here is a list of some anti- inflammatory foods to work into your diet:
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An assortment of fruits, especially berries, as they contain antioxidants and many vitamins and minerals
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Nuts and seeds Tofu and soybeans Beans and legumes
Fatty fish rich in omega-3s such as salmon and tuna
Olives and olive oil
Green tea
Dark chocolate and cocoa
Even low levels of chronic inflammation can create potential health risks. To keep your body optimally operating and your inflammation in check, be cognizant of what you’re fueling your body with! Every meal counts!
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A variety of vegetables, especially leafy greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, peppers, and avocado
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