Take inattentional blindness and layer it with the incredible number of distractions we deal with each day, and we’re likely to overlook the obvious.
But there is hope! A recent Stanford study demonstrated that even dabbling in mindfulness can help mitigate inattentional blindness. Researchers found that when subjects engaged in a seven-minute mindfulness practice before participating in a version of the Gorilla Experiment, they were likelier to notice an anomalous event.
Creating a daily practice whereby we intentionally focus our mind and maintain a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and environment enables us to lead with clarity. Meditation is only one path, and if that’s not for you, there are other, simple ways to be mindful (and notice more gorillas!).
Here are four easy-to-access starting points
Pause: Whether we’re doing something wonderful or starting to stress out, we can access mindfulness with a simple pause. Take a deep breath and tell yourself what’s happening right then without judgment. For instance, “I am writing this blog post,” then carry on. Cut through the noise with a simple reference to the present moment.
Breathe: Breathing is a consistent part of our lives; take a minute or five and count each breath as it comes or goes. Count each breath up to ten, then start again at one. Even with our attention focused on breaths, it will still wander. We can expect this to happen, notice where our attention has gone, and bring it back to counting our breath.
Unitasking: It turns out, multitasking is a myth (see also: continuous partial attention). Instead, we bring mindful awareness to what we’re doing when we do one thing at a time with our full attention. Need to write a report? Turn off all alerts, close all unnecessary windows and schedule time to just do it.
Use an App: There are several meditation and mindfulness tools to support any sort of practice, including timers, reminders, quotes, groups, and visuals.
The evidence is clear: We do best when our attention is focused on the moment. Studies on mindfulness and meditation continue to prove that practicing mindfulness at even the most simple and basic levels improves our focus and clarity. The place to start is right where you are; the time is now. As spring emerges, take time to focus on where you are; enjoy the green, natural world waking up, and maybe you’ll even see some gorillas!
Eli Shostak is a senior lecturer of Adventure Education at FLC with expertise in mindfulness, leadership, risk management, expedition design and delivery, and extensive experience leading others to discover the inter- and intrapersonal benefits of exploring wild spaces.