Radical Attention and Beta Brainwaves
Key Points:
1. Radical attention - i.e. being deeply focused and attentive to the task at hand - is key for being able to think clearly and perform at the level needed to achieve your goals. In this state, our brain is creating beta waves.
2. Being in this beta state requires lots of energy, so we need to recharge in between these periods of deep focus to avoid mental and physical exhaustion.
“Research shows that we need to take a break and decompress so we can be at our best at work—and at home. Maybe we should ask if the life we’re working so hard to create is fun to live?”
When we are in a state of deep focus and directed attention, neurons in our brain create beta brainwaves, which move through the brain at 12 to 25 cycles per second (Hz). Focus and attention seem to be controlled by neurons in the superior frontal lobe of the brain, the inferior parietal lobe, and the superior temporal cortex. The inferior frontal cortex also appears to play a role in attention and inhibition (decision-making about where you direct your attention).
The ability to pay radical attention where you create beta brainwaves is one of the most important mental skills I want you to learn and apply. It’s a powerful tool for managing stress, directing your mind, taking care of yourself, and reaching your goals. It helps you to think clearly at work, at home, and during your passion pursuits. And it all starts with realizing how important focus is and protecting your attention.
We need to be aware, however, that when we are in deep-focus (beta brainwave) mode, we are burning huge amounts of mental and physical energy. That means that it is easy to get tired and run down—even sick—if we don’t strategically recharge between bouts of focused execution (think exams, presentations, key meetings, workouts…).
The goal here is to train yourself to control your attention and then recharge so you can continue to enter deep focus states. Controlling your attention and energy enables you to experience life to the limits of your capability. Recharging your energy helps you to live life to your potential consistently over time without getting burned out and exhausted.
Practice makes Progress
When you are actively engaged in a mental activity or task—having a conversation, making decisions, or solving problems—your brain is focused and attentive. These highly active states are great when we are performing tasks and getting things done. However, when we spend all of our time hustling, we inevitably end up feeling weary and fatigued.
The good news is that over time, exercising your clarity and focus appears to change structures in the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex and the inferior frontal cortex, which are involved in decision-making and the interpretation of information from the environment. When you practise focus repeatedly, those structures grow and strengthen—your brain actually changes. As a result, so does your ability to control your attention. Put simply: The more you practice controlling your attention, the better you’ll be able to control your attention.
Today’s Call to Action: Time Shifts - I have Seconds to Recharge
Refer to the Time Shifts on page 17 in your Rest, Refocus, Recharge Workbook. If you only have a few seconds to recharge, these are some ideas on how you can press pause, destress, and return to the present with laser focus.
You can also write down your own ideas in the Notes section on page 18 of the Rest, Refocus, Recharge Workbook.
Bonus Podcast: Dr. Greg Wells Podcast
Check out this podcast episode with guest John Foley, a renowned high-performance expert
The information and advice provided in this program is intended to assist you with improving your performance, as well as your general health. It is not intended and should not be used in place of advice from your own physician or for treatment or diagnosis of any specific health issue. By participating in this program you acknowledge that undertaking any new health, diet and/or exercise regime involves certain inherent risks, that you assume such risks, and that you release Wells Performance Inc. from any responsibility or claim relating to such participation.