The Soviets did some research in 1973 and found that you can only focus for about 20 minutes at a time consistently before your mind “wanders off.” I like to take breaks every 1⁄2 hour to let my body re-adjust, let me mind take a break and have greater focus on the task at hand.
They tracked musicians, scientists and many others who spend hours of time using their minds and focused on tasks and that is what they found. I know for myself even if I’m in a good writing flow, the characters are speaking to me and I’m just jotting away, 20 minutes maybe 30 at the outside is all I can manage before my mind takes a break of its own. I’m experienced in meditation and I can keep focus in a trance-like meditative state for 15-20 minutes and then my mind breaks and I have to refocus and go again.
The Soviets did some research in 1973 and found that you can only focus for about 20 minutes at a time consistently before your mind “wanders off.” I like to take breaks every 1⁄2 hour to let my body re-adjust, let me mind take a break and have greater focus on the task at hand.
I don’t think this is true as a blanket statement. In particular, if you are in flow, you can stay focused for much longer.
They tracked musicians, scientists and many others who spend hours of time using their minds and focused on tasks and that is what they found. I know for myself even if I’m in a good writing flow, the characters are speaking to me and I’m just jotting away, 20 minutes maybe 30 at the outside is all I can manage before my mind takes a break of its own. I’m experienced in meditation and I can keep focus in a trance-like meditative state for 15-20 minutes and then my mind breaks and I have to refocus and go again.