How to increase concentration

[evildon]

Hi

can anyone help me with some tips to increase concentration with my work..

iam a computer engg student and need lots of time in front of computer,...

[Eric Roosevelt]

Take lots of breaks, and always keep a bottle of water next to you. Keep reminding yourself that you're interested in what you're doing.

[Ralph]

Originally Posted by evildon

Hi

can anyone help me with some tips to increase concentration with my work..

iam a computer engg student and need lots of time in front of computer,...

The Active Nap that I've designed sounds exactly like something you need. Here's the process, quoted from my blog :



The Active Nap addresses your body, mind and spirit. It is a rest in the full sense of that word. It will help you tremendously even when you are not tired. It’s because your normal state is so low-energy that this nap feels wonderful in comparison. Paying your body full attention for10 minutes is much more refreshing, than ‘multitasking’ your replenishment with other activities, like reading a paper for an hour. If you’re really curious about the stock market, you’ll read about it much faster once you’re relaxed and restful.

The process can be done while sitting or walking. It is up to you whether you think you need some motion or you want to relax your body fully. If you’re an office worker, you definitely need to stretch your legs. If you’re overweight and walking feels like aerobic to you - let this be your aerobic rest! If you’re a physical worker, there’s nothing better than full body relaxation so do it the sitting way. If the weather is terrible, sit or walk indoors. If there’s a natural environment nearby, by all means go for it.

If you sit - sit comfortably. Don’t cross your limbs. Put your hands on the chair or on your laps. Sit straight. If you slouch in any way, your ribs will press the diaphragm, disturbing your breath. Keep your head up to prevent sleepiness and daydreaming. Leaning your head would be a signal for your body that it’s time to sleep. Close your eyes.

If you walk - walk in a calm and relaxed way. Go somewhere that’s relatively quiet and calm. If there’s any kind of natural environment nearby, go there. You need fresh air even more than silence. Wear a smile. Keep your focus inwards. Concentrate on your body and pay just enough attention so that you don’t bump into things.

Relax and breathe deeply. Focus your attention on your diaphragm. With each breath imagine a bright, relaxing wave of warmth flowing from the top of your head to your toes. Do it for at least ten breaths before you move on.

Now start to breathe in the 1:3:2 ratio. This means for every second of inhale with your nose there are 3 seconds of holding breath and two seconds of exhale using your mouth. Stay relaxed when you hold your breath. Don’t tense up more than necessary. It’s been studied and proved that this is the optimal ratio of breath for stimulating detoxification of your inner environment. With every inhale imagine bright, warm energy flowing into every part of your body. As you hold your breath imagine every cell of your body replenishing and revitalizing. Feel every cell coming back to vibrant life. As you exhale, imagine every kind of toxic waste, illness, pain, tension and unease flowing out of your body and disappearing far away.

While you’re doing it, reduce your thinking processes to bare minimum. You are not allowed to worry, plan, solve problems or even daydream. You’ve paid enough attention to your thoughts already. Now give fullest attention to your body. It stimulates energy restoration. Most importantly, reducing the thinking processes is the only way you could gain mental clarity and sharp focus. Your thinking mind is like a hyperactive monkey. The more external stimuli it gets from your stressful job, the more hyperactive it becomes. Don’t fight it. Just watch it wear off as you breathe comfortably and keep your attention in your body.



Hope it helps

Ralph

[evildon]

Really thanks for that...
i will really try to do taht..

thanks

[RT Wolf]

That depends. What do you mean about concentration? Do you want to focus on your work and not surf the web aimlessly, or do you just find your attention wandering while workign? How long can you stay concentrated now and how long do you want to be able to concentrate for?

Meditation might help. Google "concentration meditation" for more info. I can give more pointers if you give more info.

[taktics]

There are various practices that could help you increase concentration.

One would be "The Heart of the Rose" Technique - adapted from "From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari". This is where you focus on one object and concentrate on that object for a specified amount of time, not letting your mind wander. Just focus of every detail of the object of your choice. At first do this in a quiet, peaceful setting.

A book that im reading now called ConZentration speaks of this same technique but add distractions when you start getting good at concentrating. Basically once you get good at focusing your mind on that one object, you add distractions like turning on the radio/tv and trying to do the technique. This is very good because it simulates everyday life which are filled with distractions.

Practicing this every night will help you with your concentration for everything in your life. Getting a good nights sleep always aids in concentration in the mind.

good luck my brotha.

[echo]

Another key to concentration I have found is to find a way to actually have interest in whatever it is you are doing.

It's a common fact that those who are intersted or fascinated in something (having fun with it, etc), have a much easier time concentrating on that very thing.

How do you find "interest" in something you normally wouldn't? You have to psychologically trick yourself into actually finding somethign about it that will fascinate you, whether it be one element in the task that is fun, interesting, makes you curious. The other way is to imagine in your head everything that emcompasses the future of completing that task, (not just the task, but actually creating impressive productivity off of doing that task as one part of the whole job).

[brandongilbert]

the main thing is to do a breathing meditation whilst doing whatever it is that you are doing.

this will keep your present and calm. time will fly by.

[rmuller965]

Originally Posted by evildon

Hi

can anyone help me with some tips to increase concentration with my work..

iam a computer engg student and need lots of time in front of computer,...

Hi,

Following are the tips to improve your concentration:
1. Concentrate Without Physical Tension
2. Relax Your Body
3. Pray Before You Meditate
4. Sit Perfectly Still
5. Sit Longer
6. Keep Your Eyes Gently Raised
7. Consciously Withdraw the Energy From the Body
8. To Develop Concentration, Do One Thing at a Time, and Do it Well
9. Concentrate with Interest
10. Pray for Concentration and Devotion

I hope this will help you.

Best Wishes

[magi13]

meditation
relax
breath normally
learn the memory palace and visualization

^^ those help in concentration. :3..

[Angela Leeds]

Good suggestions.

If you get sleepy after eating, that would probably be fixed nicely by jacking up your raw foods intake. I'm big on green smoothies and have to say my mental clarity & focus has been very high since I started exploring a raw foods lifestyle in 2005.

Also, if you set a digital alarm and every 90 mins or so go run up & down steps or in some other way oxygenate your body & brain, you'll notice a big difference.

I also have a computer-centric career. For me, I do similar things to keep my body from beginning stiff and so I don't feel like "a dis-embodied brain" by the end of the day.

[The David]

I'm an ADD-er who has frequently asked the same question. After wasting time trying to become some kind of nutty bookworm, I found that it's better to not think of it as increasing concentration, but rather, channeling the concentration I already have more effectively.

What will help you depends on what you're really asking here. Are you having trouble concentrating? Trouble sitting still? Or are you just wanting to optimize your concentration so you can be even more productive?

You say you spend a lot of time in front of the computer. I don't recommend working for more than forty minutes or so at a time. But when you stop working,
don't just go watch TV or websurf. Try exercising, or going for a walk outside and then meditating in a dark room.

Start working as early as possible and save leisure activities for the end of the day, when your brain is more likely to be fatigued.

Blink a lot and maybe use eyedrops if you're really going at it.

Eat protein, save carbs for later in the day. You're a student, not an athlete, so quick energy fixes are probably your kryptonite.

I've heard concentration is related to breathing span, which can be increased by underwater swimming.

[darkw0rker]

First of all let me tell you that conscious concentration is all about will power.

It's a muscle. More practiced, stronger it will be.

This is one of the best exercises available. The first time you do it, you will be amazed and your concentration will be boosted. Trust me, I am not charging you.

- Visualize a very simple image

hold it for as long as you can

the second the image disappears try again.

time yourself and make goals.

so for me, i visualized a simple triangle. You know how long I could hold it for? 0.8 seconds. That's right. After almost a second my triangle disappeared. But after practicing for even 5 minute the first time my concentration was soooo improved that it almost felt magical to me.

Do it, you won't regret it.

[supertom]

I know vivekananda sat and read the whole encyclopedia series back to back, he also read the a page at 3 glances.

Does anybody know of other stories about amazing feats of concentration??

[rocksupreme]

Wake up early as hell and do the thing that requires concentration. Finish the day's tasks by 8am, no excuses. Take a nap later and make sure to do some exercise.