Out of sight, out of mind: How to use vision for deep focus

Ultradian rhythms are vital for our ability to focus deeply. We go through three phases while doing so: 10-15 minutes of struggling towards focus (phase 1), 45-60 minutes of getting into focus and flow (phase 2), and 10-15 minutes of hitting the focus limit (phase 3).

Controlling our vision is a very potent practice for transitioning well through these phases. Fascinatingly (and a bit weirdly, too), your eyes are actually a part of your brain – the only one that is located outside of your skull! 

As captured in the proverb “out of sight, out of mind”, our mental focus follows our visual focus. When we focus our gaze on a particular object, our visual world shrinks, and our level of concentration – both visual and mental – goes up. As it turns out, completely immersing yourself visually is crucial for entering the flow state. 

Against this background, maximizing your visual focus is vital for getting into deep mental focus. Researchers tell us that this is especially important during the first 10-15 minutes of struggling towards focus. 

To get into focus and flow, do the following: Deliberately restrict your gaze to the screen, and try not to look elsewhere. When you find your gaze drifting, gently bring it back to your work. Lastly, capitalize on shorter days: If you happen to focus when it is dark outside, not turning on the lights will make it easier to fully immerse yourself in your work.

Pro tip: If you find it very challenging to get into focus and flow, stare at a point on your screen for 30-60 seconds when starting your bout. Although this feels quite effortful, it will reliably deliver a boost to your level of mental focus.

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Until next week,Christian