Inattention
Tips and Strategies to Help Concentration
Inattention is a very common problem for dyslexic people. Paying attention for long periods of time can quickly lead to daydreaming. Below is a list of tips to keep yourself focused and attentive. Please feel free to change and adapt them to suit your needs.
1. When listening for long periods of time don't worry about taking everything in. Instead focus on the main points. The overall message is always more important than the small details. This will help you to consider the overall message, and prevent boredom.
2. Take notes of the main points. This will help you take in and interpret the main message.
3. Interaction with any given situation in terms of asking questions or discussing the issues will keep your attention focused. The level of interaction should obviously be appropriate for the situation.
4. The best way to maintain attention when reading is to be aware of the full stops. Take in one sentence at a time. Try to focus on the point being made in each sentence.
5. When listening to instructions make a list of the main points in your mind. Once you've received all the instructions count the number of things you have to do. It’s easier to remember a list of tasks if you know how many things need to be done. Click here for Memory techniques.
6. Inattention is often created by daydreaming. When you realise you are daydreaming try to stop thinking about it straightaway no matter how interesting it is. The more you do this the less inclined you'll be to let your mind wander.
7. When reading with a distraction like a background noise it is easy to become inattentive. When this happens try to cut yourself off mentally from everything around you so you can concentrate on your reading. Think to yourself nothing is important, not even a bomb going off.
Conclusion:
These are all good ways of focusing the mind and avoiding inattention. At the end of the day, though, no one has perfect concentration. You are never going to be able to take in everything. The point is to focus on what you need to know. Click here for more Learning Strategies.
