Concentration Hacks: Balancing Technology and Attention | Dila Akyel | TEDxYaşamTasarımSchools
In today's digital world, staying focused can be challenging, but there are effective strategies to improve concentration. Limiting screen time using app blockers, getting enough sleep, and focusing on one task at a time can help. Avoid distractions by silencing your phone, turning off notifications, and setting timers. Create small, manageable goals to stay motivated and take regular breaks to rest your brain. Avoid working in places like your bed and train your mind to handle boredom without constant stimulation.Keeping a focus journal can help you reflect and improve weekly. Techniques like the Pomodoro Method—working for 25 minutes and taking 5-minute breaks—can boost productivity. Working in quiet, clutter-free spaces, listening to calm music, and taking real breaks (not screen time) are also beneficial. Practicing mindfulness through meditation or deep breathing helps train your attention.
While technology can be distracting, it can also be used to improve focus. Apps like Forest, Focus, and RescueTime can block distractions, provide focus-enhancing music, and track how you spend your time. By using technology wisely, you can manage distractions and improve your ability to concentrate. Dila Akyel is a dynamic and inquisitive 12-year-old student whose talents bridge the realms of technology, the arts, and language. As a junior theater actress, she has already begun making her mark on stage with expressive performances that reflect her creativity and confidence. Her passion for innovation shines through her role as a young researcher in the renowned Teknofest competition, where she explores the intersection of science and problem-solving.Fluent in German and musically inclined as an intermediate piano player, Dila embraces both discipline and self-expression in her daily life. She is also a committed member of her school’s volleyball team, balancing academics and extracurriculars with energy and focus.Dila brings a forward-thinking spirit and a global perspective to the TEDx stage, representing the voice of a curious and ambitious new generation. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 17:08What should democracies do about anti-democratic parties? | Ulrich Wagrandl | TEDxVienna SalonHow can democracy defend itself without compromising its values? In his Talk, Ulrich Wagrandl explores legal principles and philosophical debates to tackle the ongoing question: Is it democratic to silence anti-democratic voices? He reveals how democracies can protect freedom while embracing diverse opinions.Ulrich Wagrandl is a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Teaching Fellow at Vienna's University of Economics and Business. He did his PhD on the concept of militant democracy - a democracy that is willing to defend itself - in Austrian Constitutional Law. In his research, Ulrich focuses on the fundamental questions of public law and their historical and philosophical roots. Currently, he is working on his Habilitation thesis on the freedom of occupation (the right to choose one's job and to conduct a business). He remains deeply interested in the future of liberal democracy and the many ways it can stay resilient.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 11:09Should you avoid situationships? | Shubhi Kohli | TEDxUniversityofManchesterHave you ever shared deep moments with someone, only to be introduced as "just a friend"? Welcome to modern dating, where love is undefined, commitment is blurred, and “situationships” thrive on ambiguity. With research, humor, and real-life insights, Shubhi dives deep into how social media and modern relationship dynamics are shaping our emotional well-being. Are we truly happy with today’s dating culture? And where do we go from here?Shubhi is a final-year psychology student. She has assisted many university professionals on quantitative and qualitative research projects. As psychology is one of her many strong suits.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:32How winning the lottery doesn't make you happy | Matt Pitcher | TEDxWinchesterWhat really happens when someone wins the lottery? In this thought-provoking TEDx talk, a former financial adviser to the UK National Lottery winners shares powerful, behind-the-scenes stories of sudden wealth. From life-changing joy to personal crisis, these real-life accounts reveal how money can test values, relationships, and identity. Over 25 years, the speaker advised winners from all walks of life—some spent wisely, others lost everything, and a few made truly meaningful choices. With over 36 million UK adults playing the lottery each year, this talk asks: what would you do if you won? And more importantly—how are you already spending your most valuable resources: time and money? Matt is the founder of local BCorp, Altor Wealth. In a previous life he worked with former operator of the National Lottery Camelot to prevent their winners from making big money mistakes. This gave him a unique insight into whether money ever makes us truly happy. Matt passionately believes that life is about connection and supports local community work through his Foundation. In his spare time, he is a father to two promising young adults. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 13:25The spaces around us and why they matter | Dr Sarah Green | TEDxWinchesterWhat if the spaces we inhabit every day—homes, hospitals, workplaces—are shaping us more than we realise? In this thought-provoking talk, Dr Sarah Green explores how physical and digital environments impact our mood, behaviour, and well-being. From childhood dens to post-Covid workspaces, from beach holidays to hospital waiting rooms, space is never neutral. It whispers, nudges—and sometimes shouts. With insights from design thinking and spatial philosophy, this talk invites us to see space as a co-author in our lives. If we shape it with empathy and intention, we can transform not just how spaces look—but how they make us feel. "Sarah believes passionately that design can make a difference to everyone’s quality of life and has dedicated her 32-year career to this, both as a practitioner working creatively with large and small companies and as academic in the field of brand strategy and marketing. She founded local business Birdhouse studio to share this belief with over 200 children every week and has also had her own colourful print and jewellery work exhibited in galleries across the UK. Her personal passion and research area is interior design, and the how spaces around us can support our well-being. Sarah now teaches media and communications with a specialism in advertising at University of the Arts London. " This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 14:32Why Positive Thinking Doesn’t Work | Anat Peri | TEDxWesternUNOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal views and understanding of the brain, body, and emotions. Several claims in this talk currently lack sufficient scientific support. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfAnat Peri's journey began in a household where positivity often masked deeper emotional struggles. As a child, Anat found herself in constant battle with the part of her that wanted to fix others while neglecting her own needs. Today, with over 19 years of experience and more than 10,000 hours of training, Anat helps clients reconnect with their true selves through inner child work and modern psychology. Her compassionate approach guides others toward emotional healing and self-realization. Anat Peri's journey began in a household where positivity often masked deeper emotional struggles. As a child, Anat found herself in constant battle with the part of her that wanted to fix others while neglecting her own needs. Today, with over 19 years of experience and more than 10,000 hours of training, Anat helps clients reconnect with their true selves through inner child work and modern psychology. Her compassionate approach guides others toward emotional healing and self-realization. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 10:27TEACHING LIFE SKILLS FOR REAL-WORLD SUCCESS | Amatullah Abdulrahman | TEDxYouth@FuntajIntlSchoolThis speech will help you see why academic grades alone are not enough to prepare you for real-world success and why hands-on experience, life skills, and apprenticeship should be essential parts of your education. By listening, you’ll be inspired to rethink learning as more than just passing exams, and start taking practical steps toward becoming truly ready for life beyond the classroom. This is Amatullah Abdulrahman, a 12-year-old speaker with a bold vision to transform education. She is on a mission to challenge the outdated systems that prioritise grades over growth, and to shift focus from rote learning to real-life readiness. Inspired by personal experiences and observations, she advocates for an education system that values life skills, hands-on learning, and apprenticeships as much as academic achievement. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
