Being able to maintain concentration leads to practical efficiency. In order to be more successful improving your concentration and, indeed, lead a happier and healthier life, you need to learn how to be more efficient with executing your daily task.
To achieve peak efficiency, you need to be able to concentrate almost effortlessly and maintain a required level of focus for prolonged periods. In order to get to that point, here are tips on improving your concentration.
Perfect Plan For A Perfect Place
Concentration can be a matter of association – this is why we usually have very specific places such as study desks or workplace cubicles where most of our hard work is done.
This space should always, absolutely and indiscriminately be reserved work work-related activities exclusively.
Such behavior will create a stronger associative bond between work and concentration, and this is probably one of the most basic tips anyone can give you. Avoid giving in to distractions, especially if the internet is at your fingertips, and you should be fine.
The second important piece of advice is to have a well drawn out plan or a schedule related to this place. Always arrive at the same time at your workspace and have a carefully planned workday with deadlines and clearly outlined tasks.
All the hard-working people will tell you that planning is half the work done, and they are right.
What often goes unsaid in this proverb is that the same thing also goes for concentration.
If you have a solid plan which will set you up with a clear through-line of the tasks at hand, you will work for a very concrete and immediate goal which bodes well for your concentration levels.
The Sound Of Music
Music is arguably one of the greatest inventions of mankind. This art form does not only impact our moods in significant and undeniable ways, it is also a great tool in practice – it can trigger high concentration state, depending on how you have trained your brain.
Our mind loves repeating patterns – it strikes a chord of the essential human nature that tries to fight against the chaos of the universe.
When it comes to abstractions, there is hardly a better showcase of repeating abstractions than music. While music can invoke a whole palette of moods (including anxiety and stress) it can also calm us down and level out our brainwaves.
Classical music is especially known for causing such an effect – the mind becomes primed and ready to focus and, for as long as this music plays, we tend to become much more efficient with our work.
Thankfully, one can easily find the type of “concentration” or “work” music online these days, especially on platforms such as YouTube.
Depending on what you prefer – jazz, lofi hip-hop, classical music or even binaural beats – you can actually train your brain over time to “enter” the high-efficiency state as soon as one of these soundtracks begins.
This is actually quite easy to accomplish – you just need to work while this music plays, and after some time your synapses will simply associate the background music with productivity.
All you need is to find a corner of your house or your office where you won’t be distracted and put on a pair of high-quality headphones such as Focal Utopia, and you have everything required to create a “work mode” environment.
Lifestyle Changes Make All The Difference
If you have trouble concentrating, it’s a good indicator that you are simply not doing something right in terms of your lifestyle. Indeed, certain practices promote better mental performance and have a cumulative effect.
Certain long-term solutions will really help your concentration levels and make you quite healthier along the way. For one, always remember the fact that our mind loves patterns and apply it to everything.
Try to maintain a consistent sleeping schedule and make sure you are getting enough of rest.
If you are ready to try out new things, disciplines such as yoga and meditation are also a good cornerstone for improving your concentration. 5-10 minute meditation breaks during the day will go a long way.
Increasing your cognitive abilities in general also require some more fundamental lifestyle changes. For example, in order to be primed and ready, well rested and sharp, you should exercise frequently.
Going to the gym at least three times a week is a good long-term plan, but if you can do exercises every day, you will undoubtedly notice the benefits. Focus on cardio exercises and try to walk and run as much as you can.
The benefits for the entire body are numerous, but when it comes to the mind, daily jogging will simply help reinforce the cardiovascular system in your brain and increase the blood flow. More oxygen through the blood means a brain well-fed.
Additionally, you should correct your diet if you are eating a lot of junk food.
A diet heavy in carbohydrates and refined sugars is a terrible trap that will create a lot of “brain fog” which will keep you in a chronically tired and unfocused state. Instead, introduce more vegetables into your diet.
Always keep a healthy fruit snack close at hand and drink a lot of water. Ensure the daily intake of magnesium and never overeat. In order to avoid overeating, break your meals and snacks down into numerous, smaller eating sessions.
Concentration is a cognitive capability that behaves like a muscle in a lot of ways. You need to practice focus for prolonged periods and try to maintain it as long as you can in order to unlock the “doors” to next-level of cognitive abilities.
The more you practice concentration and more consistent you are, there is a greater chance you will be able to practice it for impressively long intervals.
While one can live with poor concentration, knowing how to improve it and control it can greatly improve your lifestyle and the likelihood of a successful future.
