Surgeons use these 3 powerful strategies to stay focused
Picture this.
You wake up at 7 AM.
You take a bath, have a sumptuous breakfast, and arrive at your workplace by 10 AM.
You open your laptop or the everyday entity that reminds you of your piled up tasks.
You realize that you need to get some real shit done today. Your current project requires 3 deliverables by the end of the day.
The only problem?
You don’t FEEL like working.
You can disguise it as lack of motivation. Maybe, you’re tired because you didn’t sleep well.
What do you do next?
A timid inner voice is telling you to not heed to this feeling.
Nonetheless:
You get on the internet!
And so it begins…
You feed yourself a couple of lame YouTube videos, a few memes, and more fluff.
Then, you do this every day.
Distractions become a way of life.
Eh!
Alrighty, you get it. You need to “say no” to immediate gratification.
But how to actually increase your attention span and get things done?
I am not going to suggest the usual Pomodoro Technique and tools for blocking online social media websites.
Let us enter the high stakes environment of surgeons. These dudes chill the fuck out even during those tedious 10-hour organ transplant sessions.
Okay, they can’t chill when a human life is at stake, but they enter a state of flow — unknown to most humans. They skip lunch, water, and take minimal breaks to use the washroom.
Here’s how Dr. Milan Kinkhabwala describes it:
“Your mind is so focused on what you are doing, you are not aware of time.”
Let’s spill the surgeon secrets on how to lose awareness of time and get in the zone.
1. Create a playlist of your favourite soothing numbers
Remember the genius Dr. Kinkhabwala I introduced you to above?
He has a playlist with nostalgic tunes like the “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.”
It can run for 14+ hours. And helps him reduce stress and anxiety. His surgical team also relishes his playlist.
Music is a personal choice and can quickly become a distraction.
What helps elevate your concentration on a day will depend on your mood, musical taste, and the nature of work you’re tackling.
Maria Witek and co. found that medium-levels of syncopation in music make it interesting enough for the brain.
Plainly put, simple robotic beats won’t help, neither would chaotic and complex compositions.
You need non-invasive and pleasure-inducing music to make yourself tick.
Even that leaves some gaps.
You might like modern pop music, but your co-worker might prefer the classical genre.
The science on what kind of music works for keeping you focused is convoluted.
I have found that my love for Slipknot and rock music helps me build momentum and get in the zone.
Maybe, it’s all about personal preference.
I’ll recommend you to listen to familiar music that you like, and are preferably instrumentals.
The idea is to let the music set the rhythm in the background and engages your unconscious system.
It also facilitates the completion of the task for your conscious attention system.
2. Get up from that desk and GET OUT
For prolonged periods, surgeons have to stand in a stationary position and adopt a leaning posture at the operating table.
It’s physically challenging and might result in issues in a backache and neck pain. Obviously, these issues affect the ability to concentrate.
Here’s how Montefiore transplant surgery-team member, Dr. Jay Graham, deals with them — Yoga and Running.
Now, let’s talk about a knowledge worker like you.
What happens when you ask a hunter-gatherer to stay put on a desk for 8 hours every day?
He starves to move.
The human body isn’t meant for the sedentary lifestyle that we lead. You need to get outside.
If you aren’t a fitness freak and health isn’t a priority, then fuck your plan to go to the gym.
Put on your shoes, warm up your body with basic stretches, and sprint to the nearest park.
Else, you can jog. Or just put on that playlist you made in the previous section and walk. Light or vigorous. Recreational or non-recreational.
All kinds of physical activity will help in elevating your quality of life and increase your lifespan.
Merely 150 minutes of exercise per week can lessen the risk of premature death and heart disease.
That’s less than 30 minutes per day to add more years to your life.
Oh, and did I forget to tell ya:
Regular exercise releases chemicals that help in elevating your mental sharpness and concentration.
3. Make way for the Buddhist monks in your life
When you deal with patients battling death on a daily basis, then it’s incredibly important to remain calm.
Dr. Chokechanachaisakul manages the stress by falling back to his faith in Buddhism and a daily meditation practice.
Doesn’t it make sense?
Training your brain to stay in the present and deal with challenges with composure is an asset.
If you struggle with the influx of choices and noise, then set aside 10 minutes every day for meditating.
Mindfulness meditation can help you in sailing smoothly through overwhelm.
Within 8 weeks, you’ll likely experience higher emotional control and focus.
Download Headspace for a free 10-day meditation pack.
Which of these strategies do you plan to implement in your life? Let me know in the comments below.
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