BellaOnline Forums Relationships Relationships Pay Attention for Five Minutes

I've read this in several books now, that the average person multitasks so much that they never really just "pay attention" to another person 100%. That just to sit there for five minutes and really focus on the other person - without doing something else - can be very powerful.

What do you think? Have you given five solid minutes to someone without doing something else like watching TV, doing the dishes, answering your email?

I have tried to make myself more aware of this and really focus my attention, but I admit it is hard sometimes, the email and computer call to me

Yes paying attention is definitely powerful and essential.

Here's an excerpt from an article I wrote about concentration and multi-tasking:

"...There is a misconception about what multitasking really is. It�s not about dividing your attention over several projects all at the same time. It�s about giving one task your undivided attention for a period of time�no matter how short�and then quickly shifting to the next task giving it your full concentration, and so on. �It�s not a spray of bird shot,� writes Dr. Greene in Fight Your Fear and Win 'It�s sharp shooting.."

I agree. Its nice to have someone's attention all to yourself for awhile. I hate it when i'm at dinner with someone and they take a 10 minute phone call. Its rude and it diminishes the meal adn companionship.