How do you concentrate ?

I have the same problem as well. What I do is I usually turn off my web browsers (if I'm not using them for help) and all my messengers, then I put on some of my favorite music and I just start powering through whatever I have to do just to get it done.

Then later I go back and make the appropriate edits but I don't really worry about it until that time.

I've also heard people who do it in increments. They get a small timer and set it for an hour and they don't get up from their chair until the timer goes off, then they take a break and reset it and go at it again.

One has to treat the brain as a muscle that needs exercise to build up in order to perform well. Many of us will sit all day rather than exercise our muscles and this puts our brain to sleep. When we exercise, walk or weed the garden, for instance, we think and exercise the brain. Reading or rather learning new techniques does it also but TV or movie watching puts it to sleep. This can also be the case if we are just surfing the web without focusing on what is of interest to our needs. Many prefer to watch what others have done rather than invent their own ideas and that's where concentration may become a handicap.

The best way of describing how the brain works is to picture a landscape with little creeks running through it. Where there is a dam the water stops. When growing we create channels for processing thought. The harder something is to do the greater the channel we create. As we age we must keep those channels free of weeds or damming materials that will stop thought processes. That means giving oneself new tasks to clean them out.

The other point worth making is that when we are excited about something it is hard to stop the mental process. That's why we might not be able to sleep when great thoughts are upon us. If we are doing something that we are bored with or discouraged by our brain tends to lock down.

If your channels were not opened properly in the growing process to enable you to do what you are doing it becomes very hard and you may find you can't concentrate on it. That's why a change is important.

I suggest you stop trying to program for a while and think about the most exciting thing you would like to do and then do it. It might make all the difference to you. Even taking a holiday in a new environment can be the right stimulus

Hope this helps.

Yeah... focus can be hard to come by... but I always remember that if I need to concentrate, I need a proper space to concentrate...

i.e. my cluttered desktop has to be organized
i.e. my desk has to be cleared off
i.e. I have to close the door and rid myself of temptations to lose focus

Sometimes a change of scenery or a relaxing break helps me too!

Ronnie

First you have to realize that there is a buffer of time that exists at the beginning of every task, where your brain is adjusting to the task at hand. Until this buffer has passed, you are not working at full capacity.

So, by constantly switching tasks you are losing out on a lot of valuable time.

I personally fix this problem by stating a time limit every time I do something. Like right now, I said "I have 20 minutes, until 5:50 to read and respond to posts on the warrior forum". At the end of this 20 minutes I will stop and go onto my next task, which is unfortunately fluid mechanics homework

I give myself an hour for that, etc. This is how I stay on task, as well as efficient.

Mad Dawg

I heard Eben Pagan talk about our mental rhythms recently and started trying to do his focused work exercise. He works on one thing for 50 minutes, then takes a 10 minute break - which is zoning out. Then repeat, then eats a small meal.

I couldn't do 50 minutes the first time, think you have to work up to that level. So if you can do 5 minutes, do five and then try 10. Work up.

Removing distractions is of course key. Close the browser, turn off twitter, etc.

Hi,
I cannot concentrate for a long period of time too. I'm easily distracted and my mine is clogged with many things. A few of my friends told me to meditate for about 15 minutes a day. I have tried that but can't seem to do it. any suggestions??

Aside from all of the great advice: grouping your tasks together, taking regular breaks, eliminating/reducing distractions, to-do lists...

Something that helps me out greatly (especially when it is tasks that I'm not particular interested in doing) is to set a deadline. An agreement that I will complete such and such by a specific time. Do or die basically. I also make the agreement with myself that I can't do anything that I would like to do until I plow through this task and just get it done. Sort of like Brian Tracy's "Eat That Frog" mentality.

Also, depending on your situation proper nutrition may be playing a role on your lack of focus at times. Make sure that your drinking plenty of water, consume something low in sugar - mostly complex carbs and moderate in protein. I find that having a good quality protein shake at least 20 minutes before putting myself to real focus work really helps. The water/protein helps to keep me sharp.

Last, some other supplements may be able to help you increase your focus. A good solid mutivitamin (not a tablet - capsule or softgel preferably) and Glutamine - either in powder or capsule form can also help increase focus and is fairly cheap. Most Wal-Marts sell Glutamine in a small container for about 10 bucks. I personally have great results in my focus since supplementing with Glutamine (it's an amino acid - protein building block that's the most abundant amino acid in the body, can also help boost immunity among various other benefits). EFA's (essential fatty acids) can also greatly help. Omega 3,6 & 9 fatty acids. These are also cheap and easy to find usually as softgels from fish oil sources. The amino acid Tyrosine can also be used to help with focus and I'm sure you can pick it up at a local GNC or most other spots where supplements are sold.

Try to avoid any products that claim to help with focus if you go down that route unless they primarily use some of the supplements listed. There are a lot of products out there that contain stimulants and arn't natural to the body such as caffeine. Hope that helps.

The concentration and dedication - the intangibles are the deciding factors between who won and who lost.

My suggestions for you the moment you cannot stay focus and concentrate
in your daily task is...

I will take a short break, free my mind. Take deep breath and have a walk
outside if possible. Look back at your goals and your action plan. Then decide
to do whatever it takes to achieve them.

If you feel like lost, you should really review back your goals and your action
plan. Most of the time it is because of the strategies that you are using are
not correct, that is why you fail to achieve the results you want.

So what you can do then is just to sit on your table, take out a piece of
paper and grab a pen. Write down every single ways how you can achieve
your goals, write down the reasons why you want to achieve them right
below as well.

This way, after you did so, I believe you will know what you should do and
you will have the drive to keep you going...

Hope this help..

I just attended a Tony Robbins seminar - and it was a amazing. But one of the things that I really "GOT" was how he made us get up every 15 minutes and start dancing... singing or doing something else ridiculous.

When you sit back down your focus will increase ALOT Try it, it works

I try to keep motivated, and know why I am working. If you Know why you are workeing and not just working because you think you have to then you'll concentrate.

I have days out where I live the lifestyle I want, I visit upmarket shops and restuarants. I went to Puerto Banus last week (near marbella in southern spain) and sat on the harbour front watching the Aston martins and $20m yachts.

The next day I was in the Zone, I wrote a 5000 word report a 1500 word magazine article and set up a new website.

These away days keep me motivated for a few weeks , I then supplement them with slideshows of thing I want. Usually once a month is enough to keep me concentrating.

Try to turn off everything around you, except for the thing you're supposed to be doing.

Do that one thing and don't deviate.

I would like to suggest to you to read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This is the greatest book in Personal Development.

I am sure you will get something from there.

Focus can be achieved by asking the right questions.
Like what Anthony Robbins said in his book, you will receive what you ask for.
So ask the right question to direct your focus.

Music. I am an easily distracted person, but if I put in my headphones and block out the outside world, I am able to concentrate much more effectively.. For example.. there are chainsaws currently running 30 feet from where I am typing, and I don't have my headphones.. what a dilemma..

I find that if I get rid of anxiety, then I can concentrate much better.

Thanks for all the feedback. I am doing a lot of things you guys have said (eat healthy, do cardio in the morning, create a to do list , turn off the phone). The problem is

1. I will not get around to doing things on the To-do list but spend most of my time on the net surfing
2. Then when i get around doing a task on the to do list, i will do it for 5 min and i am back on the net.
3. If I can't surf the net then I am out shopping grocery or eating out.

I think I may be addicted to net (I don't brows porn, but mostly news sites, blogs etc)

Has any one taken addiral ?

i concentrate by yelling at my wife to STFU and turn down her World Of Warcraft and her Voice Chat, otherwise i cant program or design right

j/k

Things like meditation and Yoga can really make a difference to your mind and concentration.

Self-help - Education, Love & Relationship, Self Improvement, Quality Leadership, Spirituality, Meditation

Write what you want to do now on a piece of paper and then picture yourself doing it first. After that you will be able to concentrate on what you want to do. I do that to myself a lot of times and it works.

I use EFT....it clears all
the blocked energy keeping
me from moving forward.

Try and shut everything (other software) down whilst you are working on a specific job.

Email used to be a big distraction to me. I have now decided to check email once per day and switch the thing off for the rest of my day, I have noticed I am much more productive without the constant interuption of new email notifications. Try it

I want to say for me it's easy. I say that because I know what's important and I do what I need to do to get the results I desire. I don't watch tv. I don't do many things that distract or take my attention off task.

How to I concentrate?

If you can concentrate exclusively on a single goal-image and hold it in your conscious mind for a long period of time...Then it will sink deep into your powerful subconscious mind. Then,sooner or later, your goal-image seed will start to geminate and bear fruits accordingly!

This is one of the powerful secret techniques I use for goal achieving.
Use a 3'X5' card and write down specificly your goal-image,
then carry it with you and read it often; paste another one on place you view it often... Once your creative mind takes over,the result will be astonishing! More secrets.

Frank117

Inner Power 2 Wealth

I like to use a personal diary. What I've done is that I've installed WordPress on my PC, loaded it with a simple WordPress theme that I like and used it as a place to keep track of things - my goals, tasks, work, personal commitments etc. On the right sidebar, I've put up a to-do list which I've committed myself to finish everyday. Then there are goals and other things. Each project I work on has its own page with its own notes and tasks to complete. I pick one up and finish it off.

Finally, the home page of my "blog" acts as a place to write my personal musings (helps especially when I feel a bit low) - it gets me kicking again

I write everything in it and I've found this setup very useful in keeping me focused. Hope this helps - you may want to test it out

Regards,
Sagar

I find that listening to Baroque music helps me concentrate. I learned this trick a few years ago. My daughter is diagnosed with ADD. Her tutuor suggested that she do her homework with Baroque music playing in the background. It helped her and it now helps me.

I know exactly what pbjay is talking about- and a very posible solution so listen up. I too experience the ADD symptoms without actually having ADD. I believe that it is completely diet related. I can have caffeine, or whatever, and have all of the energy in the world, but it does not help me concenrate at all. I believe it is because of my blood type. I am an "O" blood type, which means that I need a higher protein intake. Now, I like sugary things alot, but wouldn't you know it, the moment I stop eating sugary things altogether and increase my protein intake, my ability to concentrate jumps up dramatically. So this is something to seriously consider if you are an "O" blood type. or any other blood type for that matter- sugar impairs your ability to concentrate.

I agree with those who talked about chunking their time. This has really ramped up my focus! I'll work for 30 minutes, then take a break. It creates a sort of timeline for you where you feel like you need to work as hard as possible on the task at hand before your "break." At the same time, you know that you'll get to take a rest soon, so you're not as tempted to goof around or float to distractions.

With that being said...focusing online can be a challenge so having an arsenal of tricks to reel yourself in is very important.

There are many techniques available on how to stay focus. Lack of concentration could be an indication of stress. The first thing I recommend is to eliminate all possible source of distraction.

One strange technique I learned to improve concentration is to close your eyes and completely and try to stand on just one leg for as long as you can.

Try it, it's not as easy as it sounds.

I like to scare myself into getting jobs done e.g. If I don't makemy website today; I won't do it tomorrow; I wont make money; I'll go bankrupt , etc.

The main one for me is to turn off my email so I don't see/hear it come up. If I don't I will go off on many tangents.


Shirley

Time is the most precious currency.

For me, I find I work much better in the morning... so I defend that time from all distractions (email, Internet, TV and so on). Doing so allows me to use this time to it's full potential.

Also, start the day with a clean desk.

For sending you away without a solid, practical, guaranteed solution, the doctor who told you that there is no attention deficit in your life should be ashamed. Anytime you find yourself unable to control your attention in order to accomplish objectives that you know full well are in your best interest, a deficit exists, and a useful, empowering solution is called for.

What do you think you could achieve - what kind of changes do you think you could bring about in your life and your career - if you had the ability to willfully control your attention so that your mind could target in on any task with laser-like focus and not be pulled off track?

Can you imagine how much more productive you could be? How much more of your potential you could realize?

What if the very act of Concentration itself fed you with more energy, enthusiasm, and passion for what you most want to achieve?


If Mental Concentration is what you desire then the thing to do is to learn that specific skill and master it.

I have two options that are of value to you.

1) You can enroll in the 7-Day Course I've designed to get anyone started who wants to learn how to Concentrate. This basic course does not cost you a cent, and it comes with a copy of The Power Of Concentration. Get your Free Mental Concentration Training Course Here.

2) You can get a copy of my full Neuro-Sculpting! Mental Fitness Brain Training Program NOW A WSO.

Feel free to correspond with me personally in regards to your progress, and I'll assist you.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Did you know that if you can hold a single, simple image in your thoughts for 20 minutes straight, you have more mental power than most human beings you'll ever meet?

It's true.

20 Minutes - how long can you go? How strong is your ability to concentrate?

You should measure it.

Friends, I can suggest you all who really cant concentrate for long time. Regular practice of 'Yoga' really helps to increase concentration power. Not only this but also helps to keep the body and mind fit.

regular practice of 'Yoga' is very effective to increase concentration..

I have the same issue sometimes as well...trying writing down a "to do" list and maybe it will help you stay focused. It seems like its harder and harder because we are all so busy... Good luck.