Concentration: Ready, get set, focus!

You have been assigned to read a chapter from your textbook as homework from school. You gather everything you need and sit down to study. However, after a short while you feel yourself losing your concentration due to hunger. So you go and get something to eat. Then you resume studying but find that you are again unable to concentrate, so you turn on the TV telling yourself that you will resume studying after a short break. Then you return to studying but just when you are halfway through the second paragraph you start to read, the thought of something which happened the day before strikes you and you start thinking about it. Then your gaze falls at the clock in the room and you are shocked to find that a whole hour has passed and you have not been able to accomplish much. This situation sounds familiar, huh? Students usually get drifted away and can't seem to concentrate when they are studying. This can be very frustrating. On the contrary, just imagine how much you can achieve if you can focus. What is concentration? To focus is the skill of paying attention to just one thought or activity while excluding every other thought. When the mind is focused on one thing, our energies are not spent on unwanted thoughts or activities. This is one of the major reasons why it is important to develop at least a reasonable level of concentration as it is absolutely essential if we want to accomplish any goal in life. Benefits of developing concentration Concentration aids in placing all our energy to any activity and in controlling our mind and thinking process. This way we get rid of negative and unwanted thoughts and achieve peace of mind and inner satisfaction. We then have a strong memory, confidence, stronger will power, fast and effective studying skills and the skill to meditate. Without concentration, all our efforts can be in vain; but with a high level of concentration we can achieve whatever we want in life and be successful in any field. Causes of lack of concentration There are many reasons why we can't concentrate on something but some major ones include being not prepared to study or do the task at hand, a lack of interest in the material, the material being too difficult, lack of motivation or goal, too many disturbances/distraction around, emotional problems, being tired, having too much to do and the thought of failing an exam. Ways to improve our concentration level Developing concentration is a tough task but it is not impossible and here are a few suggestions: Will power and motivation: We may lack the motivation to concentrate. It can be because of being so often scolded for not concentration that we may develop a disliking for concentration and studying. It is no wonder then that we don't want to concentrate. And also when we are forced to do something against our will, we tend to hate it and thus can't bring ourselves to concentrate on it. However, you must gather every single ounce of willpower in you and motivate yourself to focus if you want to achieve your target. Plan: Without a plan, you will find yourself distracted by a series of conflicting thoughts, instead of devoting all your attention to one important task. To avoid this, you need a clear plan with some time for recreation and rest also. Choose the right place:  Libraries, specific study areas and personal rooms are the best places to study. However, the place that you choose should be free from any distractions. Exclude all other thoughts: Keep the purpose of studying in mind and just focus on the reading/learning material. And do push away the thought of failure if you are preparing for a test. Think of it this way that if you will study well, then there are no chances of getting poor grades and tell yourself to relax. Develop interest in reading material: If you can't develop interest in whatever you are studying or doing, take rest and do some other activity. This will give your mind time to prepare and focus again on the text when you get back to I after some time. Time for a change: It is difficult to focus on one thing for a long time as the brain gets tired of the same activity. Try concentrating on one thing for an hour then move on to a different task. A change in activity maintains our ability to focus without making us fed up with one activity. Take rest: Take short breaks of at least 5-10 minutes after each hour of studying. This helps in making us more active and interested in the topic we are reading. Change of environment: If you are one of those who easily get bored by studying at one place, you can change your workplace frequently to provide yourself the fresh environment you require. Take care of health: Make sure to get the right amount of sleep regularly at the right time, but avoid oversleeping. Practice meditation daily. Thomas Jefferson once said that we rarely repent on having eaten too little. Therefore eat less and only nutritious foods which activate those parts of the brain that help in increasing our concentration level. Similarly, exercise is also crucial for physical fitness. Try cycling or walking which is easy and fun too to stay fit. Reward yourself: Reward yourself with something you like or enjoy, such as a favourite meal or watching a movie, if you have been able to accomplish your goal. In the end, when we are focusing on a tedious and strenuous job, it can be fun if we learn this skill and with practice master it. The best way of doing it is with optimism and keeping in mind the great benefits that it can bring along.