Concentration
Concentration is the ability to remain focused on accomplishing a mental task, and it is one of the most valuable skills to have because being able to concentrate is infinitely helpful when you are struggling to keep up with a tight schedule. Not only does concentrating on a task help you do it faster, it also results in a superior product or, if you are processing information, it drastically improves memory retention. The following advice is designed to help you sharpen your concentration.
- The Mindset:
- Trust in your ability to concentrate. Too many people believe that they have artificially low limits to their attention span or their intensity of concentration. Push yourself—concentration is a test of willpower and technique.
- Make yourself interested in whatever you’re doing. There is probably something to gain or learn from it. Even if it might not be apparent, think about what you are learning from what you are doing, and take interest in that.
- Visualize things that you read. Instead of thinking of it as reading words, let your mind create a picture of whatever you are reading about. The words themselves should be a guide to a mental image or process, not the focus of your attention.
- When writing or doing an assignment, don’t think of how difficult it is or how long it will take. Instead, involve yourself in it. If you can’t bring yourself to want to do something, just force yourself to do it intensely for 5 minutes, and by then you will be in the mindset you need to do it.
- Identify your weaknesses and defeat them. If you think you’re bad at math, get better. Again, the limitations are only in your mind. Force yourself to try, giving up is weak and unnecessary.
- Practice concentration in everyday life. Don't let yourself zone out. Zoning out can become a habit, but so also can focusing. So pay attention to what's going on around you unless there's something else you're thinking about--don't let yourself simply zone out and think about nothing. Make focus second nature to you.
- Your mentality is a big factor. Tune out everything, involve yourself completely in the task at hand. If you find your mind wandering, bring yourself back to where you need to be mentally. You will be a shepherd of your own thoughts, guiding them to where they need to be and stopping them from wandering astray.
- Set aside worry/think time, and make sure everything is
organized so you can comfortably focus fully on the task at hand. One huge reason that people can’t concentrate, especially on tasks that aren’t extremely engaging, is that there are often other things to think about that might seem more urgent or interesting. Set aside time to mull those things over, and make sure to sort out anything worrying you during that time. The same goes for organization—make sure that whatever you’re doing is part of a plan. With these taken care of there is nothing preventing you from becoming absorbed with the task in front of you.
- Change the topic of your concentration from time to time for refreshment. Make sure to switch or take a short break if you really find your mind wandering.
- Other factors:
- Have breaks and things to look forward to as you work. Don’t take breaks too often or for too long, but allow yourself time to eat, take a short nap, shower, etc. Things like this will refresh you for the next round of concentration, and motivate you to get things done.
- The physical setting is important. Find a comfortable position, but not too comfortable. A bed is not the best place to engage in arduous mental tasks, but the floor or a desk might be. Find what works for you, but make sure it’s not somewhere that won't tempt you to be distracted or fall asleep.
- Experiment with music to stave off boredom. A lot of people find that sounds without words, such as classical or instrumental or trance, are conducive to concentration. Others prefer different types of music, and still others prefer silence. Find what works for you.
- Get rid of distractions like phones and computers. At least have your phone out of your sight and your computer monitor turned off if you are engaged in something, so that you won’t be tempted.
- Exercise and sleep help to keep you alert. Physical stimulation is a good way to refresh yourself if you start getting tired or bored, and sleeping properly is key to maintaining your ability to focus.
- Try meditation before you begin. Meditation is a period of intense concentration to achieve mental clarity and focus. Try looking at your hand for a few minutes, and take in every minute detail. Or simply executing one of the simplest forms of meditation: breathing in and out through the nostrils, eyes half-closed, sitting cross-legged with straight posture, focusing on a void in which the only thing that exists is the feeling of air entering your body.
- Study harder stuff when you’re most alert. Immediately after school or late at night, people usually are not at their mental peak. For teenagers, the peak is usually in the evening or night. Use this time for things that require focus, so that at times when your mind is not at its best, you can do less engaging tasks.
