Having good observation skills can be very useful. If you are a good observer, you can become a more sensitive person, a better worker, and a more critical citizen. Try some of the suggestions below to become a better observer.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Studying the Habits of an Observer
Step 1. Know the difference between observing and seeing
Observing and seeing both use the eyes. Many people use the two terms without distinguishing between them, but actually, seeing and observing are two very different activities.
- Seeing is when you process something with your eyes without intending to use the information at a later time. You do not enter any information into your memory or seek meaning from what you see.
- Observing is seeing what is around you and keeping it in your mind so you can find out what it means or criticize it.
- Deduction is when you separate important details from unimportant details after you have observed something. In deduction, you use your powers of observation to reach a conclusion.
- To practice observing, instead of just looking, take a piece of paper and write down everything in your room. Then look around you and compare your list with the objects at hand. How many objects do you see or touch each day that you never notice? Keep doing this over and over and see how many things you start to remember.
Step 2. Pay attention to your surroundings
A good observer is always aware of his surroundings, rather than just passing them by. Look around you when you're walking to the store or driving to work. You'll start to notice things like certain cars that take the same route to work, or how the corner shop has changed its display.
If you visit the same places every day, try to pay more attention to them. What do you realize about these places? What changed? What remains the same? Try remembering things about these places next time and see how much you remember
Step 3. Pay attention to details
Begin to be aware of the details of the things you are missing. Paying attention to things that seem unimportant makes you more aware of your surroundings. This makes you a better observer. The more often you try to notice something on purpose, the faster it will become a habit.
- What kind of trees are in front of your favorite coffee shop? What color shirt does your boss wear the most? What cars are in the parking lot? Are your steps at 7 am and 7 pm different?
- Be aware of the smallest details. While waiting in line at the post office, observe the condition of the clothes and shoes of the people around you. Observe what people order at the restaurant. Practicing being aware of small details will make you more sensitive.
Step 4. Don't be in a hurry to give an assessment
To be a good observer, you must be neutral. Observations should not involve personal feelings or judgments as these are usually based solely on bias. When you involve personal feelings, personal opinions, and prejudices, you will not see what is really there. You only see objects that are distorted by your perception. A good observer ignores their personal feelings and sees things for what they are.
- To do this, start by taking one step back. Take distance from the world around you. Instead of dwelling on your bad experience with a certain breed of dog, see the dog for what it is. Don't prejudice people with certain cars just because you associate that car with a certain social class.
- Staying neutral can help you see things for what they are. That pitbull you're afraid of actually often plays with small cats and licks strangers in the park. The person who drives the expensive car might do three different jobs just to pay for it.
Step 5. Go slow
To be a good observer, you shouldn't always be in a hurry. If you rush through your day, you won't have time to observe the world around you. Try to take time each day to observe the world around you. Do new things or try to see something familiar from a different perspective.
- Try taking pictures every day. Don't just take just any picture; Take pictures of the interesting things you see every day. This will help you become aware of the things around you and take the time to observe what is around you.
- Check out a new piece of art every day. Try to remember the model of the car parked next to you every day. Try new foods and write down details about them. Give yourself time to observe the world around you.
Method 2 of 2: Practice Your Observation Skills
Step 1. Sharpen your memory
Part of being a good observer is remembering details. This includes remembering everything from locking your door before you leave, to the color of the car parked next to you. Since our brains usually filter out mostly such unimportant information, you should make a conscious effort to remember all the little details. This will help you sharpen your memory as well as make you a better observer.
- When you leave your house, say to yourself, “I turned off the stove. I've locked the door." This will help you remember. This technique can also help you to start observing small, everyday actions.
- Use memory games like concentration. The memory skills you should develop are those related to the five senses. Vision is the most important. Look at a photo, then close your eyes and try to remember what you saw in the photo. When you go for a walk, try to remember what you smelled. Every afternoon, try to replay the conversations you had that day, and see how much you remember word for word.
Step 2. Get rid of distractions
One of the reasons why people are not as sensitive as they should be is that their attention is always distracted by distractions. Cell phones, music, to-do lists-there are many things that annoy us on a daily basis. Try to get rid of these distractions so you can focus more on your surroundings.
- Remove your headphones when you are walking or on a train. Listen to the sounds around you, including conversations. Don't just look at the objects around you, try to observe them consciously. If your attention is not distracted, you will be more aware of everything that is happening around you and can remember it more easily.
- Focus on the television show or movie you are watching and listen carefully to the song you are listening to. Don't just watch or listen, but pay more attention. Think about the choice of costume in the television show or film, or why the director set a scene the way it did. Look at the properties used, especially the background, and see what you can observe and deduce from the characters, themes, and storyline. Try to understand the meaning of the song you are listening to.
Step 3. Write a field journal
Observation is a very scientific way of seeing the world. By writing a field journal, you are actively recording your observations. It can be about anything; the important thing is to observe everything around you and strengthen your observation skills.
- Start by going to the park with a notebook. Write down what you see around you. Make sure you take note of specific details, such as the color of the clothes people are wearing, the birds flying overhead, and the sounds you hear. Then start determining which details are important and which are not.
- Use this field observation in other aspects of your life. How many times has the person sitting next to you in the office gone to chat on his cell phone? How many times does a customer hold onto an item before they finally buy it? What color clothes do most people wear on the bus?
- Consider your observations and start drawing conclusions. For example, customers usually don't touch food many times before buying it; they took it and paid it straight away at the cashier. Customers usually hold a beauty product five times before deciding to buy it. Your boss always wears a blue shirt on Monday, and a green shirt on Thursday.
- Use this journal to pinpoint anything unusual. Think of strange sounds or events happening around you. Being a good observer means that you need to be able to notice things that happen out of the ordinary.
Step 4. Be aware of the connections between the things you see
One part of the observation is drawing conclusions. Practice observing the world and analyzing its meaning. Don't just observe without doing anything with the information you get.
- If you see a daughter with a confused mother, then look at the university brochure in her handbag, you can conclude that this mother is confused because her child is looking for a suitable university.
- If you see a man with a stain on his shirt, then look at the bassinet on his car seat, you can conclude that the stain was caused by the baby.
Step 5. Do meditation
Meditation is a good way to strengthen your observation skills. Meditation helps you clear your mind so you can focus.
