Concentration

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N00DL3

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Hi Guys,

I need some help with how do you keep your concentration levels up.
While i was still studying i would always start to wonder off.

And now even with work, if the stress levels are high and deadlines aren't around the corner
i get distracted easily and then find it hard to get concentrating on one task again.

Any help , please :)
 
And the trolls come out to play :/

OP - Do a quick google on concentration "exercises", was also pondering this a few days ago, there are a few "exercises" you can do at your desk, its more like a training program to increase your concentration levels over a period of time and not a once of fix ;)

One thing i read is that you treat your task, however mundane, as the most interesting thing in the universe. Seems silly, but once you judge something as boring, that's all it will ever be, but think of it as something interesting and you suddenly perk up and pay attention <- this actually works once you practice it a bit.

Good luck
 
Actually I think there is no magic cure or trick around this. Aside from what droplet recommended above (Good sleep is very NB!).

Unless whatever you are doing holds your interest sufficiently or you have a super level of discipline (Which can make life very dull at times) then your mind is going to wander and you will want to substitute the activity with something that provides more immediate rewards. This is normal behavior as far as I'm concerned.

The best is to just suck it up and engage/apply the activity. Maybe try make a game or challenge of it (Do a time trial or make it objective based or see it as some form of superiority that makes you better). Download a timer app for your desktop and challenge yourself to complete something amazing in just 5 minutes, rinse and repeat. You might be amazed what you can accomplish in a short time, especially if you break down bigger tasks.

I find once you are committed to the activity for at least 5-10 minutes on a good day then you might start to concentrate on it and it isn't so bad. Starting it is the hardest part and then comes sticking to it after the break.

Some days I find I can't decide what to start and what is priority - I always have what feels like 1000 potential things I'd like to do at any given moment (Even when there is nothing I NEED to do right now), I honestly can never be bored. I then embrace the fact that I have so many choices (This reduces stress somewhat) rather than hide from it, then I choose 1 activity I instinctively feel is going to be the most beneficial and make effort to focus on it.

Another thing I could add is the theory of only a maximum of 4 hours a day of really productive capacity per individual. This applies to when you need to learn something new or generate new content, not the routine stuff. Use those 4 hours wisely and preferably while you are still fresh in the day. Plan ahead to make those 4 hours count.
 
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N00DL3 said:
Hi Guys,

I need some help with how do you keep your concentration levels up.
While i was still studying i would always start to wonder off.

And now even with work, if the stress levels are high and deadlines aren't around the corner
i get distracted easily and then find it hard to get concentrating on one task again.

Any help , please :)
Click to expand...

Meditate.
 
N00DL3 said:
Hi Guys,

I need some help with how do you keep your concentration levels up.
While i was still studying i would always start to wonder off.

And now even with work, if the stress levels are high and deadlines aren't around the corner
i get distracted easily and then find it hard to get concentrating on one task again.

Any help , please :)
Click to expand...

Go and fix the other stresses in your life, no one can attempt work while the mind is not even there.
 
Less controversially, I'd also recommend caffeine pills if you can cope with the side effects of high-caffeine doses. While caffeine doesn't affect your concentration directly, it does prevent fatigue which is itself required for sustained concentration. Can find them at pretty much any pharmacy. Not possible to sustain for more than a couple of weeks in my experience though.
 
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ritalin is excellent when it is indicated. unfortunately, it gets over-prescribed and has developed a bad rep because of it.
 
droplet said:
ritalin is excellent when it is indicated. unfortunately, it gets over-prescribed and has developed a bad rep because of it.
Click to expand...

doctor I cant get it up: take pill
doctor I cant concentrate: take pill
doctor I can't come to you: take pill

pills solves everything :)
 
I also struggle with concentration issues sometimes and I generally find that it coincides with my bouts of insomnia.

I find that if I force myself to concentrate on what I'm doing for 45 minutes or so I can get into the zone and I'm good for three or four hours. This becomes an issue when your boss decides he loves meetings and pans three or four of them during the course of the day.
 
You can try an application like Focus Booster or Flowkeeper.

Diet, exercise and sleep might help, if you're deficient in them.

Caffeine is the poor man's substitute for Ritalin. Excessive doses of caffeine or any other stimulant will impair your concentration. Caffeine works best in low regular doses, as do other stimulants. Another good alternative is nicotine. The gum is readily available and it is easy to titrate your dose (you need very little).

Don't get your caffeine in drinks high in sugar.
 
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