Art, obsession, and identity
If you want to improve your attention to detail, try and establish a routine that you can stick to. Aim to wake up, work, exercise, and go to sleep at the same time every day.
An ideal way to start if you want to improve your attention to detail is to get organized. How can you improve your attention to detail if you don’t know what you need to focus on?
You may find it helpful to have two lists, one for long-term tasks and the other for short-term tasks. As the long-term tasks become more pressing, move them to the short-term list.
In order to plan effectively, you may find it useful to write lists. A list can be a solid way to concretize your tasks and make sure you remember to complete them.
Make sure that you are on top of what needs to be done and when, whether in your work, school, or home life. Planning ahead is a great way to do this effectively.
If you do not have a routine and you run around each day doing different things at different times, you will find it more difficult to keep track of the details and notice when something goes awry.
As long as you are distracted, you cannot pay attention properly to the task at hand. Try to minimize distractions: put your phone on silent and ensure that you are rested and well-fed.
Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. You may find yourself distracted by your phone, your coworkers, or even the fact that you are tired or hungry.
You needn’t worry about doing anything super hardcore. Even walking to the supermarket or cycling to work is enough to raise that heart rate and reap the benefits of exercise.
Regular exercise is important if you want to have a good memory and the ability to maintain a high level of concentration. To achieve this, try to exercise for at least 30 minutes per day.
If you have a number of tasks to complete and find yourself distracted by the thought of one task while working on another, note down the distracting thought and return to it later.
Perhaps an obvious one, but an important one nonetheless. Don’t multitask! Multitasking is the sworn enemy of attention to detail.
People tend to forget this one, even though it's one of the most important. You should always remember to take regular breaks, even if just for 10 or 15 minutes.
You might begin with eight or 10 pairs of cards face down. Turn over two cards at a time, and each time you find a pair remove it from the table. You can also play with a friend if you fancy.
These are super easy to find in children’s books and magazines, although they might be a bit basic. But it is possible to find more challenging puzzles aimed at adults.
There are other types of puzzles and games that can be good for improving your attention to detail. “What’s wrong with this picture?” games, in particular, are good.
If you are willing to change things up in your pursuit of the ability to pay attention to detail, there are exercises you can try. The first is memory cards.
Try to take your breaks at the same time every day and you will find that your ability and willingness to focus on the details improves.
This is a nice one because you can do it anywhere and it requires zero equipment. Simply look at the scene around you, capture it in your mind, and close your eyes.
Many people won’t like this one; math is the subject most hated by high school students the world over. And yet it is a great way to practice getting those details right.
Very often in a math problem, a mistake early on will produce an answer that is way off. Practicing math problems will help you focus on the details and check your work.
With your eyes now closed, try to recall as many details from the scene you just captured in your mind. Each time you do it, you should find that you remember more.
Meditation is a perfect way to improve your concentration and attention to detail, as it helps to clear your mind and reduce your levels of stress.
You need not meditate for long periods of time; even short periods of meditation can have huge benefits. If you’re a beginner, there are apps out there to help you get started.
Of course, for many people it's impossible to completely eradicate screen time. But even reducing it and allocating time specifically for screens can do wonders.
Looking at your phone or computer screen can be quite harmful to your ability to concentrate. It's a good idea to reduce the time you spend doing this, if you can.
Instead, it requires you to focus in an ongoing way on the things going on around you. Pick out the small details in sounds, smells, and images.
This one is similar to memorizing images, but it does not require you to remove yourself from the moment to remember what you saw.
Once you have got your attention to detail in check, flaunt it! Being able to spot the smallest detail is a major skill for any employee; be sure to show it off.
The best way to demonstrate your great attention to detail when applying for a job is to produce a flawless resume. After that, feel free to list it as a skill and show where you have applied it to your previous work.
Sources: (WikiHow) (Glassdoor)
See also: Ways to improve your critical thinking
The ability to notice tiny details is a great asset. It improves the quality of your work, while saving time and effort. To some people, this skill seems to come naturally—they don't struggle to pay attention to the small details. To other people, usually those who work quickly with the big picture in mind, attention to detail tends to come less easily.
Fortunately for those people, attention to detail is a skill that we can train and develop. Check out this gallery to find out how to improve your attention to detail.
How to improve your attention to detail
Top tips to brush up on this sought-after skill
LIFESTYLE Personal improvement
The ability to notice tiny details is a great asset. It improves the quality of your work, while saving time and effort. To some people, this skill seems to come naturally—they don't struggle to pay attention to the small details. To other people, usually those who work quickly with the big picture in mind, attention to detail tends to come less easily.
Fortunately for those people, attention to detail is a skill that we can train and develop. Check out this gallery to find out how to improve your attention to detail.