tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post3685124932734799397..comments2014-06-28T09:56:21.522-07:00Comments on Stray Thoughts Of Margaret McGaffey Fisk: Ins and Outs of ConcentrationMargaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-53003207532651826292009-05-08T10:40:00.000-07:002009-05-08T10:40:00.000-07:00Thanks for the link. Interesting comments there. ...Thanks for the link. Interesting comments there. But very true about the catch-22. Maybe that's part of why I have to distract myself...from the reality of focusing so I can focus on the task at hand.Margaret M. Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-26650716757042621822009-05-08T07:21:00.000-07:002009-05-08T07:21:00.000-07:00John Tierny, science columnist for the New York Ti...John Tierny, science columnist for the New York Times wrote a column about the article you read. People asked questions and the first followup column's first question was about music aiding concentration. Here's a link: http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/does-an-ipod-help-you-concentrate-and-other-questions-about-attention/<br /><br />It's an interesting concept. The main thing I Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04736694155016381228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-57070145500036038742009-05-06T13:33:00.000-07:002009-05-06T13:33:00.000-07:00Hmm, makes me wonder then, with the prevelance of ...Hmm, makes me wonder then, with the prevelance of music across both types, whether music is somehow not involving the same aspect of the brain (with the exception of some people and music with lyrics).<br /><br />Though I will say the word multitasking is actually confusing because it doesn't mean literally working on multiple things at the same time as that isn't physically possible with the Margaret M. Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-71914987944487619522009-05-06T12:42:00.000-07:002009-05-06T12:42:00.000-07:00I'd describe myself as a serial single-tasker ...I'd describe myself as a serial single-tasker - I will faff about doing not much of anything with twitter and emails & blog-reading, and be totally absorbed in it, but I have to shut everything off to get into a 'serious' task. I might well be building up for the next one in the back of my mind (probably explains some of the pressure I put on myself to complete/finish asap), but IAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-40665408347377580492009-05-06T12:36:00.000-07:002009-05-06T12:36:00.000-07:00Well, Erin, I said _I_ have to distract myself to ...Well, Erin, I said _I_ have to distract myself to concentrate. The article says the reverse. But you've got an interesting side point there. I can't remember if that was true before I had kids. People say kids steal brain cells, and maybe they do, but maybe they also push us into a multitasking life that some are not suited for.<br /><br />That's interesting, Jenn. I can relate in the sense Margaret M. Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-91004313842482856052009-05-06T12:29:00.000-07:002009-05-06T12:29:00.000-07:00I can't have music going while I'm reading (which ...I can't have music going while I'm reading (which includes writing) - I can only concentrate on one complex thing at a time. On the other hand, I can listen to a lecture much better if I'm doing something else - handwork, that requires concentration but not...um, verbal concentration? My music generally has words and I want to hear them. Instrumental music goes into the background so far I jjmcgaffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01546108186137014999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-20274880155894713932009-05-06T12:09:00.000-07:002009-05-06T12:09:00.000-07:00Have to distract myself to concentrate? I defy any...Have to distract myself to concentrate? I defy anyone with an elementary school-age kid and a toddler to *not* have distractions!Erin M. Hartshornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07266817608093831779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-62661991538500181522009-05-06T11:14:00.000-07:002009-05-06T11:14:00.000-07:00I suppose the multitasking question falls then on ...I suppose the multitasking question falls then on whether you're thinking about the other projects in the back of your mind :). It's hard to identify the triggers and working patterns sometimes, I know.Margaret M. Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-6451386848839909332009-05-06T05:59:00.000-07:002009-05-06T05:59:00.000-07:00I think I fall somewhere in the middle. Sort of. ...I think I fall somewhere in the middle. Sort of. I *have* to have several projects going on at the same time, just to give myself a break from being hyper-focused on one thing. But only one of those projects is my *main* project. Right now, I'm checking email, blogs, and attempting to get bits of writing done on my main writing project for the month. Music sometimes helps me focus, and Tamara Morninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04696611858111525401noreply@blogger.com