Question

give your wandering mind active breaks experts say \active\ breaks are among the best ways to retrain your mind and your attention. dont be afraid to get creative. develop a list of alternatives. try randomly choosing ideas out of a fish bowl or craft projects, a short meditation, fixing a quick meal or talking a walk outside. all the better if you can involve a friend as well. the break needs to be a physical or mental activity — no passive phone - scrolling. when the brain is understimulated and looking for change, itll usually grab onto the first thing it sees. the smartphone, an \ever - producing change machine,\ is an enticing option, said cindy lustig, a cognitive neuroscientist at the university of michigan. turn off unnecessary notifications and put that \do not disturb\ mode to good use, especially before bedtime. better yet, put your phone in a whole different room, lustig said. say no to multitasking multitasking may make you feel like youre getting more done, but brain experts recommend against it. \be a single tasker,\ nye said. \work on one thing at a time, for a specified period of time and begin to work your way up.\ lustig is a big fan of the \pomodoro technique,\ in which you set a timer and work on something for 25 or 30 minutes before taking a five - minute break. she tells herself: \i can do anything for this amount of time,\ and the world will still be waiting for her at the end. start with something you actually like and set a goal its not enough to just have a hobby, lustig said. it helps to choose hobbies that include deliberate practice and a goal to strive toward, whether its playing guitar for an audience or improving in a sport. it helps to pick something that you enjoy as well. \you dont want to start with the heavy nonfiction or like war and peace,\ lustig said. \if you need to start with the romance novel, then start with the romance novel. you can work your way up.\ its also important to be kind to yourself. everyone has good and bad days, and attention needs are different — and even vary from task to task. the key is to make an intentional effort, experts say. \it is in many ways similar to a muscle in the sense that we can build it up with practice and exercises,\ ziffra said. \conversely, it can weaken if were not exercising it.\ what does an active break look like? what are some things you would do during an active break? why would multitasking be bad for our attention span? what is the importance of a good hobby? based on what youve read, how would you evaluate your attention span? how would you improve it?

Explanation:

1. An active break involves physical or mental activity like developing ideas, short - meditation, fixing a meal, or talking to a friend. It avoids passive phone - scrolling.
2. During an active break, one can develop a list of alternative activities, do short meditation, fix a quick meal, talk to a friend, or take a walk outside.
3. Multitasking may seem productive but brain experts recommend against it as we should work on one thing at a time for a specified period.
4. A good hobby should be something one enjoys and includes deliberate practice and a goal to strive toward, which helps train the mind and attention.
5. To evaluate attention span, note how well one can focus on tasks. To improve it, avoid multitasking, take active breaks, use techniques like the Pomodoro technique, and engage in hobbies with goals.

Answer:

What does an active break look like?

• It involves physical or mental activity, avoiding passive phone - scrolling. Examples include developing ideas, short - meditation, fixing a meal, or talking to a friend.

What are some things you would do during an active break?

• Develop a list of alternative activities, do short meditation, fix a quick meal, talk to a friend, take a walk outside.

Why would multitasking be bad for our attention span?

• Brain experts recommend against it as we should work on one thing at a time for a specified period.

What is the importance of a good hobby?

• A good hobby should be something one enjoys and includes deliberate practice and a goal to strive toward, which helps train the mind and attention.

Based on what you've read, how would you evaluate your attention span? How would you improve it?

• Evaluate by noting how well one can focus on tasks. Improve by avoiding multitasking, taking active breaks, using techniques like the Pomodoro technique, and engaging in hobbies with goals.