9 SIMPLE TIPS TO DEVELOP CONCENTRATION
1. Do one thing at a time, set a side specific time period
It helps to develop concentration if you just do one things at a time giving it your complete undivided attention. Multitasking (doing many things simultaneously) will make you distracted and it is an ineffective way of doing things contrary to what many people believe. Do one thing at a time in order to develop concentration. if you are trying to think about planning studies for your exam, for the next 30 minutes or so, just think of that alone. Focus your mind on the details of the same and how you plan to do it. Let not your attention wander to other things during this time.
2. Do something as if for first or last time:
We take a lot of everyday things for granted and do not observe as intently as we should. In order to develop focus and observation, try to look at tasks which you do everyday as if you are doing or seeing them for the first or the last time. This will encourage you to observation, concentration and also in gaining new insights.
3. 5 more rules:
From now on, if you’re in the middle of a task and tempted to give up - just do FIVE MORE. Read FIVE MORE pages. Finish FIVE MORE physics problems work FIVE MORE minutes.
4. Un-clutter your mind by writing down:
While doing something important, if other worries are invading your mind thus affecting your concentration then an effective way to overcome this problem is to write down any concern you might be having on a piece of paper, next to it write down a date or time when you want to deal with the problem. Writing it down this way will help in un-cluttering your mind so that it is free to concentrate on the task at hand.
5. Reward yourself:
Decide before starting your work how you would like to reward yourself, when you finish. The reward can be anything that makes you happy and relaxed - like having your favorite food, going out for a walk, meeting your best friend etc. It doesn’t have to be something big, any activity that gives you pleasure and takes your mind off work for some time will do. This system of rewarding yourself will increase motivation for doing things.
6. Be task specific:
Before you start any work, be clear in your mind as to what you want to accomplish. Before sitting down to study for exams, be clear what chapter you want to study now, how much time do you intend to study etc. Be as specific as possible and move on to some other task only after you complete this.
7. Use a concentration score sheet:
Whenever doing some important work, use a concentration score sheet. Each time you find your mind wandering, makes a check mark on the sheet. If you do this on consistent basis, you may find that you have a far fewer check marks and far greater concentration.
8. Break task into smaller parts:
Breaking a task into smaller parts will make it seem less daunting and help you approach it with more positivity. If you are trying to study a textbook for exam, then you can make a goal of finishing one chapter at a time.
9. Do a thing wholeheartedly :
If you approach something half-heartedly, it can show in the quality of the work. In order to do things better, do them with interest. Whatever you are doing, try to find some aspect of it that interests you. If you can find something interesting in each thing you do, you can enjoy even the most mundane and boring tasks.
Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire, which transcends everything.