Poll: How do you prefer to concentrate?

[Outright Villainy]

Something that's been on my mind lately: What's your optimal way of concentrating?

Do you like to do a bajillion things at once to avoid boredom? Do you need to do one thing, and one thing only?

For the record, I'm firmly in the latter camp. I've often had people try and get my attention whilst I'm reading to no avail, or try and unsuccesfully have a conversation with me whilst I game. I also have to do nothing stimulating whilst listening to music; I'd have to be walking or lying down or cleaning or something automatic.

But here's where I pretend to care what you do. So, do tell!

 

[DasDestroyer]

I can either be doing lots of stuff at the same time, or be doing one thing/nothing, but then I need music to keep myself entertained.

Edit: Because I obviously can't understand the OP the first time I read it.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

>_> I have ADD. If I'm doing something that interests me, I am focused completely on that.

If I am doing something that I don't quite get (say....Calculus), than I am REALLY easily distracted. I will be grumbling at a problem, and next thing you know, I'm on the escapist!

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

I can only do one thing at a time. If I'm talking on the phone and someone starts telling me what to say, I'll hear none of what either person is saying and end up telling everyone to shut the fuck up.
Which gets awkward when I'm on the phone to some civil servant or something. Then I have to be like "no I was talking to this jackass."

I'd like to blame being so stupidly tired all the time but it is more likely I am just kind of lame.

 

[darth.pixie]

I can concentrate on many things if I want, or on a single thing if I'm focused. Depends on the situation and activity.

If I'm playing a video game for example and am totally dedicated, I've had people shouting at me and I didn't notice a thing. I can also watch a movie, read and listen to music at the same time without either activity suffering too much.

 

[MercurySteam]

I tend to do one thing at a time unless the task is really tedious like grinding online, I tend to listen to music.

 

[ThisIsSnake]

I put on spandex, stand in an open area (cities are too distracting), clench both my fists and leave them by my side as if I'm about to pelvic thrust.

Then take a deep breath in and scream like I have constipation for two full episodes.

 

[Queen Michael]

Concentrate?
What's that?

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

It depends what I'm doing, really. If a screen is involved (PC, TV, 360) then I find my attention span slips quite badly and I have to have a few different things on the boil to hold my interest. On the other hand if I am reading a book, say, I focus to the point that everything else just falls away.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Concentrate?
What's that?

It's where you increase the solute/solvent ratio. Duh!

OT: Depends what I'm doing... ( ...) When working, listen to quiet-ish music in the background (preferably without lyrics, lyrics permitted when not typing). When cooking, I listen to back episodes of News Quiz for shits & giggles. When really cooking, I try to ignore the smell and keep an eye on it so nothing explodes.

 

[Lord Doomhammer]

I like to concentrate on orange juice.

I usually have the tv going with BBC-USA, my laptop with something on steam, a person in the room annoying me with a conversation and itunes playing in one ear... I'm getting good at this.

 

[Marter]

The first poll option usually fits me well, except for the curing cancer part. Seriously, I hate wasting time, so I'm usually doing a lot of things at once. And having two TVs allows me to play games and watch it at the same time.

Or play two games...

 

[Razzigyrl]

In order to actually accomplish things, I have to occupy some bits of my mind to get them out of my way- When I'm making wire jewelery, I HAVE to have music playing, and sometimes a TV program going, to occupy the bit that thinks in words so that I can get out of my own way and get things done. If I don't, I tend to get distracted or procrastinate like mad, no clue why. If I'm listening to a lecture, I have to doodle or wire to pay attention. For some reason, this doesn't apply to reading, I can be in perfect quiet and totally sucked in.

 

[SilentCom]

Depending on the task, I may just concentrate on one thing or open my mind to many tasks. If it's a complicated and detail-oriented task, then I'll devote my full attention to it. If it's something menial or boring, I may listen to music or whatever at the same time.

 

[Outright Villainy]

The first poll option usually fits me well, except for the curing cancer part. Seriously, I hate wasting time, so I'm usually doing a lot of things at once. And having two TVs allows me to play games and watch it at the same time.

Or play two games...

See this is partly why I created this poll, as I only found out recently that people can operate like that, and honestly I find it unfathomable! Do you have a dual core brain or something?

SURRENDER YOUR SECRETS TO ME.

 

[Uncreative]

Depends on what I'm doing, usually. I'm pretty easily distracted, so if I'm studying I'll put on music I've heard a million times to keep me half-way focused. If I'm reading or something, more often than not I just retreat to the quietest part of the house and hope no one bothers me.

Music and books just don't mesh well for me...

 

[FalloutJack]

My mind aborbs other minds to help me concentrate.

 

[Sticky Squid]

I can concentrate on whatever I feel like it.

 

[PurplePlatypus]

It depends on what the two things are as to whether I could multitask or not. I can play a game and listen to say a podcast at the same time as long as the game doesn?t need me to read a load of text or obviously listen to a character speak. I also listen to podcasts when I?m drawing, sometimes I don?t hear what the podcast is saying if I need to concentrate. Usually they are fine together though.

 

[Jonesy911]

I can't do one thing at a time, it has to be at least 3 or 4 things. No matter what I'm doing, whether it's schoolwork, homework, music, talking, reading, typing, watching videos, playing the guitar etc. There have been a few exceptions though, when I watch a particularly good film I always get sucked in (examples being 12 Angry Men, Starship Troopers, Princess Mononoke and City of God).

But as a rule the only times I always concentrate solely on one thing is when I'm gaming. In simple games I can still have a youtube vid or podcast on in the background but in a complex game the world around me shuts down.