short attention span - treatment

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I’m a college student. I’ve grown up with the typical video games, internet, and television. My attention span is too short for me to focus on a single assignment for a dedicated amount of time. I don’t think I have ADD but once I’m on a computer or in front of a TV I’m darting between topics and activities as quickly as one clicks link after link through Wikipedia from Dalai Lama to Amdo to Dharamsala to Rice to Golden Rice to Sweet Potato… etc.</p>

<p>And it’s driving me nuts!</p>

<p>I usually do fine in school, I’m a B student. But I’m applying for a job next week and have to write two essays by this weekend and I know it’s not hard and if only I could sit down and type it all out in one awesomely productive sitting, it would be just fine. Instead it will feel like a grueling struggle which will involve typing a few sentences at a time. I’m just super frustrated with myself because I can’t focus for more than maybe 10 minutes at a time.</p>

<p>I need help. I’m sure some of you have encountered this problem before, maybe in yourselves or your friends/families. If anyone has tips on how I can work through this, or tips on how I can improve my concentration and lengthen my attention span, it would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks,
CB</p>

2

<p>Sometimes what works is telling yourself, “I only have to work on this for fifteen minutes.” and set the timer. Work until the timer goes off, you’ll be surprised at how much you can do in that amount of time. Then do something you want to do for fifteen minutes, then go back to another fifteen minutes on the project. </p>

<p>If 15 minutes is too long, try ten, or 7. The key is to tell yourself, I only have to work on this until the timer rings.</p>