Psychologists have found that focusing on a particular task tires the brain just as much as the muscles become tired from doing that task. Therefore, one needs to distract and switch between activities for better efficiency. In this respect says Today in Psychology.
According to psychologist and neuroscientist Paul Zehr, previous research has identified two main mechanisms for the accumulation of fatigue: central and peripheral. The central part is responsible for the motivation to do something, while the peripheral part is responsible for the direct effort expended to put the task into practice.
The impact of both mechanisms on work efficiency helped create an experiment in which volunteers had to perform a simple strength exercise (lifting a load by extending their legs). In the first case, the volunteers performed maximum repetitions on their own, in the second with the help of electrical stimulation that caused their muscles to contract and relax.
Experience has shown that although people do not need to force themselves to do repetitions with electrical stimulation, they tire much more than when training independently.
The experiment showed that our intention to achieve a result plays an important role in the accumulation of fatigue, and switching between different activities helps to complete a task more efficiently by unloading the central part.
This approach also works in situations where one is faced with an intellectual task; A walk or exercise will help him cope better with writing complex text than trying to work on a piece without interruption until it is ready.
Paul Zehr noted that this approach is similar to procrastination, but actually increases productivity rather than decreasing it.
Previous scientists offered Here are a few effective methods to combat procrastination and increase motivation.