How can I improve my concentration?
Just like anything else, if we don’t practice our concentration, we will slowly lose the ability to do it effectively. Years after leaving school, you may find this out the hard way by sitting down to truly focus on something and then realizing that you just can’t do it anymore. The good news is that you can retrain your mind, so that it is easier to focus and concentrate once again. If you are having trouble concentrating on a task, try these easy tips to getting your focus back on track.
Block out all distractions. Turn off the TV, the radio, and, if you have them, send the kids out to play. It may help even more to go into another room and shut the door.
When you find your mind wandering off, make it a point to tell yourself to focus. Giving your mind a command may seem funny, since to it coming from you and directed toward you, but it actually works better than you think.
Cup your hands around your eyes to block out everything else within sight. This changes your vision from “wide view” to “tunnel view” and can really help your mind focus on that one task.
Make a to-do list and stick to it. If you lay out what you need to do and when it needs to be done, you may find it easier to focus on the task at hand.
Split up the task into smaller sections. For example if you have to read a book, read 5 pages, take a 5 minute break, then read five more pages. Or if you have to write a 15-page report, do your research, notes, and outline the day before and then set goal to write five pages after breakfast, then another 5 after lunch, and then another set of 5 after dinner.
