There are many benefits to having strong concentration
skills. When you can get your brain to focus on the task at
hand, you can get more done in less time. You’re also less
likely to make mistakes. And you’re able to retain
information better. Sadly, it can be very difficult to
concentrate in this age of technology and 24/7 information.
Thankfully, there are many different exercises you can do to
improve your concentration.
Write it down
Knowing exactly what you’re supposed to do makes it easier
to get into a state of flow faster. You can’t get into that
state if you’re trying to figure out where everything is and
how to do it. Write down directions for the task, including
what materials or tools you need and the order of operations
to help your mind get focused.
Meditate
Some people find that they can improve their concentration
by practicing meditation. Try meditating, even at your desk,
for just a minute or two between tasks. Giving your brain
time to switch to the next task improves focus.
Try a puzzle or brain teaser
Others find that they can improve their concentration by
doing things like puzzles or brain teasers. Of course, for
some, this can lead you down the rabbit hole of gaming
instead of doing the tasks you want, so make sure you set a
timer for just a couple of minutes so you can get to your
work.
Stop multitasking
Try to focus on one thing at a time. It may feel weird at
first, especially if you’re used to multi-tasking – when
you’re used to a lot of noise, the silence feels deafening.
But it’s important to try and focus on one task until it’s
done before moving on to the next task, primarily because
humans aren’t designed for multitasking. Therefore, you’re
not actually multitasking. Instead, you’re just switching
tasks which can cause you to take longer and make more
mistakes.
Take a short walk
Instead of trying to switch right to a new task when you
finish another, go on a short walk. You don’t even need to
walk a full five minutes to work. Get up, get some water or
go look out the window. If you can’t leave your desk, just
stand up, stretch, and take a few deep breaths before
switching tasks.
Do the task for just two minutes
Another excellent exercise for improving concentration is to
set a timer and see how long you can go without getting
distracted. For example, start with a goal of 2 minutes and
see how long you can last. Once you can consistently hit
your 2-minute goal, try increasing it to 3 minutes, and so
on.
You can do many other things on a regular basis to improve
your concentration, like exercising regularly, getting
enough sleep, eating nutritious food, and staying hydrated.
Limiting distractions before you start the task will also
help you focus. Of course, it won’t happen overnight, but
with practice, and a good timer, you can learn to
concentrate better.
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