Concentration is the ability to direct one’s attention following one’s will. Concentration means control of attention. It is the ability to focus the mind on one subject, object, or thought, and at the same time exclude from the mind every other unrelated thought, ideas, feelings, and sensations.
That last part is the tricky part for most of us. To concentrate is to exclude, or not pay attention to, every other unrelated thought, idea, feeling, or sensation. To not pay attention to the numbers, beeps, and other indicators that we have a new message, a new update, a new “like,” a new follower!
Our daily routine is dominated by switching in and out of our mobile phones and computer. We get a constant influx of messages from WhatsApp, email, Telegram, and the half-dozen other apps that are somehow critical to our job. We constantly search for information to help solve our daily problems or get our work done. Here are some tips to stay focus.
Reduce multitasking
Attempting to perform multiple activities at the same time makes us feel productive. It’s also a recipe for lower focus, poor concentration, and lower productivity. And lower productivity can lead to burnout. Examples of multitasking include listening to a podcast while responding to an email or talking to someone over the phone while writing your report. Such multitasking not only hampers your ability to focus but compromises your work quality.
Coffee in small doses
Drinking coffee, or other caffeinated beverages, in small doses may positively impact your ability to focus. A 2021 studyTrusted Source found that caffeine may positively affect sustained attention.
The key to taking advantage of caffeine’s cognitive-enhancing properties is to consume it in moderation. If you drink too much of it, you may feel anxious or nervous, which generally reduces your ability to stay focused.
Evaluate how mentally focused you are
Before you start working toward learning how to focus, you might want to begin by assessing just how strong your mental focus is at the present moment.
If the first set of statements seems more your style, then you probably already have fairly good concentration skills, but you could be even stronger with a little practice.
If you identify more with the second set of statements, then you probably need to work on your mental focus quite a bit. It might take some time, but practicing some good habits and being mindful of your distractibility can help.
Train your mind
Engaging in various brain training activities is a great way to improve your cognitive abilities and, subsequently, your ability to stay focused. When you instruct your brain to become more disciplined, you can become more active in paying attention to the task in front of you.
Prioritize your tasks
If you have a lengthy number of tasks to complete, it can be beneficial to create a to-do list and rank each item by its level of importance. This lets you focus on one task at a time, allowing you to methodically work through your tasks instead of simply being overwhelmed and likely ineffectual.
Work in a quiet space to focus
Working alone or in a secluded area makes you more apt to get more work done. A quiet environment can help you improve your focus by ensuring you won’t be interrupted by colleagues or other noisy distractions from your workplace environment.