The right environment for concentration

Focusing seems increasingly difficult in an era saturated with information, notifications, sounds, and lights. Every stimulus can become a distraction, pulling us away from tasks and goals. The environment plays a fundamental role in concentrationWhat concentration really is and why it’s so hard to maint... More: learningIl termine apprendimento - con i sinonimi imparare, assimila... More to adjust it allows for better energy management, performance, and satisfaction.

What Concentration Is

Concentration is a fundamental cognitive function that allows us to orient ourselves and focus attention on what we are doing, excluding external and internal distractions. It involves the brain’s prefrontal cortexThe prefrontal cortex plays a fundamental role in numerous p... More, essential for executive control and the management of cognitive resources. The ability to concentrate influences the effectiveness of learning, memoryMemory is a fundamental cognitive function that consists in ... More, and both work and creative productivity. Concentration is modulated by various factors, including motivationMotivation: a scientific perspective Motivation is a fundame... More, emotional state, and interest in the activity. Physiological difficulties in concentration can occur under a high workload or during periods of fatigue or stressWhat is stress? From a clinical perspective, stress is a phy... More. Conversely, concentration can reach significant peaks when tasks are challenging but rewarding or after restorative rest.

Environment and Concentration

The environment, including living conditions and economic situation, plays a crucial role in promoting or hindering concentration. According to Eurostat data, 14.9% of the European population experiences moderate or severe difficulties with concentration and memory, but this percentage rises to 19.9% in cases of poverty risk. In some countries, economic precariousness increases concentration difficulties by 20%. These results show how concentration and memory are deeply influenced by environmental conditions, including economic ones.

The Human Environment as an Ecosystem: The Ecology of the Mind

To understand the role of the environment in our existence and cognitive functions, we can refer to the ecology of the mind. This theory recognizes a deep interdependence between organisms and between the organism and the environment, in terms of continuity and integration. The ecological approach, etymologically “the study of the environment,” is here applied also to society and human relationships. Communities, groups, and families are interpreted as natural ecosystems, where balance and evolutionary needs dictate the rhythm of functions, exchanges, and reciprocity. The ecology of the mind studies subjects and context in a unified, holistic way, without separations or isolations. By focusing on interconnections and dynamics, it enables a systemic approach to human sciences as well. An integrated, overall perspective allows the development of new, effective, and innovative solutions to complex situations, optimizing the cycle of actions, emotions, and thoughts within various microcosms, including human ones.

 

 

 

External and Internal Environments for Concentration

The environment is fundamental for concentration and learning. A carefully designed school environment can support emotional regulation and well-being, positively influencing academic performance. The ecological approach is also essential in workplaces, where the well-being of employees and companies is linked to the design of the environment and relationships. At home, the environment contributes to the sense and idea of “home,” where external order, cleanliness, and hospitality are reflected in intimate emotions and feelings.

The ecology of the mind teaches us that external and internal environments are deeply connected. We can apply effective strategies to improve the external environment when possible, while simultaneously adopting practices to optimize the internal environment. For example, we can aim to:

• Create a personalized supportive environment: each of us has unique preferences and characteristics, including regarding concentration. It is essential to know them to organize the optimal environment for our cognitive functioning. We can adjust lights, colors, and surrounding objects as much as possible. Sound is also important: some focus better with specific background music, while others prefer silenceSilence, often overlooked in the frenzy of modern life, is a... More.
• Take care of the olfactory environment. Rachel Herz, neuroscientist at Brown University studying the psychological science of smell, notes that odors can evoke pleasant emotions and, in turn, profoundly affect well-being and health. Scientific studies show that scents associated with positive autobiographical memories can promote slower, deeper breathing and reduce inflammation markers. These olfactory stimuli help manage stress, enhancing cognitive abilities and concentration.
• Practice intentional silence and protect ourselves from infodemic and over-connection. The flood of notifications and excessive information can create “noise” distractions, sometimes of questionable quality, like fake news. Choosing to filter incoming information fosters mental clarity and concentration, while preserving essential time for reflective silence. The I.C.O.N.S. conference by the RINED Institute of the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation focuses on silence, where researchers and neuroscientists share the effects of silence and contemplative practices on well-being and cognitive functions.
• Maintain healthy lifestyles, including good-quality sleep and regular physical exercise. Harvard Medical School recommends 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, to improve concentration.
• Practice meditationThere are many ways to define meditation, but perhaps the si... More and intentional silence: contemplative sessions can enhance the ability to concentrate, even in adolescence. Mindfulness, in particular, teaches us to bring greater attention to the present moment, improving awareness.
• Learn box breathing, which promotes concentration and emotional well-being.
• Schedule restorative breaks that do not require excessive attention or focus. Trying to relax while monitoring phone notifications can be counterproductive: better to take a walk outdoors, preferably in nature or a quiet place.
• Moderate multitasking: when handling multiple tasks simultaneously, our attention shifts from one to another. This has a cost in terms of energy and time, so especially for complex tasks, it is better to focus on one activity at a time.
• Seek the “flow state”, the optimal experience in which we are fully immersed in an activity, detached from distractions. Flow is cultivated by fostering intrinsic interest and motivation, fully engaging with the process and goal.

Finally, when concentration falters despite our efforts, we can take inspiration from children, masters of creative problem-solving. According to a study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, children compensate for low attention and concentration, typical of their cognitive development, with creativity and a holistic perspective. They can use less focused but broader attention, considering seemingly irrelevant information. When facing a problem, they spontaneously change strategies, relying on creativity and flexibility.

Concentration and Emotions

Emotions remain central to concentration; they must be acknowledged and channeled for our best intentions. In this sense, not only positive and pleasant emotions help us, but even anger: according to a 2023 study published in the *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology*, anger can also help us achieve our goals if properly transformed and channeled. All emotions have meaning and evolutionary utility: our task is to learn to recognize and use them for our improvement and overall health, which includes satisfaction and happinessHappiness represents an emotional state characterized by pos... More. Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti provides the free Emotional Intelligence Edukit, aimed at making emotions our allies in decoding and fully living life.