Ideas and Tactics for “Sensing and Focusing”

Belcher’s “Model for Learning” (For more information about the entire “Model for Learning”, see this essay: That’s How Learning Works?!?! A Comprehensive Model for Understanding the Learning Process.)

Ideas

When a television is playing in my vicinity, I am basically useless.

Even if I’m not actually paying attention to the television, my brain is drawn towards whatever is playing — making me have to try very hard to ignore the television. Having a television playing is less of an issue when I’m in a relaxed setting, but much more of an issue when I’m trying to have a deep conversation with a friend or study challenging material.

Although I’ve used television as an example, there are many examples of situations that challenge our “Sensing and Focusing” — and tactics to improve our body and brain.

Physical State

The baseline for “Sensing and Focusing” is our physical state.

• How much have we slept in the previous night and a few nights in a row?
• What, when, and how much did we eat in the last 24 to 48 hours?
• What, when, and how much did we drink in the last 24 to 48 hours?
• Have we consumed any substances that change our senses?

If we are not nailing the basics for sleep, eating, and drinking, our senses become dulled. We are much more prone to misunderstanding the world around us, then making mistakes in the situation. In…