Summary - How the Brain Works

A constant storm of electrical activity takes place in the brain
Distractions exhaust the prefrontal cortex's limited resources
Being "always on" (including being connected to others via technology) reduces effectiveness similarly to losing a night's sleep
Focus occurs partly through the inhibition of distractions
In addition, distractions consume too much energy because the braking system is part of the prefrontal cortex
Continual inhibiting reduces the effectiveness of more inhibiting. Need to short-circuit the inhibiting process.
Having explicit language for mental patterns gives a greater ability to stop patterns emerging early on, before they take over
Really effective focus requires removal of all external distractions completely
Reduce the likelihood of internal distractions by clearing your mind before embarking on difficult tasks
Improve your mental braking system by practising any type of braking, including physical acts like going for a walk.
Inhibit distractions early before they take on achieve momentum