What is selective attention?

Selective attention is the ability to focus on one task while ignoring others. It’s a skill that we use every day, but it can be difficult to maintain our focus when there are so many distractions around us.

In the workplace, it’s important to be able to selectively pay attention to the tasks that are most important. Otherwise, we can quickly become overwhelmed and our productivity can suffer.

Lack of focus at work can be dangerous

In some cases, not paying attention can be dangerous. If you’re working with machinery or driving a car, for example, it’s critical that you pay 100% attention to what you’re doing. Distractions can quickly lead to accidents in these situations, so it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and stay focused on the task at hand.

How can you improve your selective attention?

• Set aside time for specific tasks: When you know you only have limited time to complete a task, you’re more likely to focus on it and get it done.
• Eliminate distractions. Turn off your notifications and put away your phone so you can focus on the task at hand.
• Take breaks when you feel yourself losing focus. Move around or grab a cup of coffee, then come back to the task refreshed and ready to focus.
• Create a distraction-free environment. This might mean working in a quiet room or using noise-cancelling headphones.
• If you need to, break the task down into smaller steps so that you can better focus on each individual step.

Selective attention is a skill that takes practice, but it’s worth it to develop this skill in order to be more productive at work. Try out these tips and see how they help you!

This Post Is Part Of A Series: 101 Toolbox Topic Ideas For The Construction Industry
Do you struggle to come up with toolbox talk ideas each week to discuss with your workers? Fear no more, Work Safety QLD is here to the rescue with 101 Free Toolbox Talk Ideas for the Construction Industry.