AJ Marsden is an assistant profession of Human Services and Psychology at Beacon College. She is also a performance expert.
According to her research, performance begins to deteriorate after 50-60 minutes of continuous work. After such time, we begin to daydream and lose focus.
When you multitask, however, performance decline accelerates. The brain fatigues rapidly during multitasking.
This deterioration in the brain’s ability to focus after performing tasks is known as decision fatigue.
Decision fatigue occurs when our willpower reserves run dry. When willpower is low, we lose focus, our ability to concentrate is impaired and decision-making goes off the rails. And this is when mistakes happen.
Since we find ourselves in a culture which promotes multitasking, it is critical that we forge habits that help us restore our willpower reserves in order to avoid making mistakes that will cost us time and money:
- Taking regular breaks restores willpower.
- Napping, restores willpower.
- Going for a short walk, restores willpower.
- Closing your eyes and resting for ten minutes, restores willpower.
- Eating carbs, restores willpower.
- Exercise, restores willpower.
- Listening to calming music, restores willpower.
- Prayer and meditation, restores willpower.
High performance achievers build into their life daily habits which restore willpower so they can maintain their focus and concentration.
About Thomas C. Corley
This is useful information, thank you. I recognize that the crazy fogged-out “I cant think anymore, I need a nap” feeling I get on my demanding job is decision fatigue. I’ve been trying to insert short diversionary activities every hour or so in order to make myself get up and get into motion and re-set my brain, if even for 10 minutes. It helps, but a nap sounds even better 🙂
Thanks for the list of ways to restore the mind. That’s really helpful!