Learning System Index > Learning Skills Index > Concentration
Concentration is careful attention: when you concentrate, you can focus on a particular subject or activity and do not let anything distract you. Several factors can affect your ability to concentrate.
Environment
The environment where you study has a great influence on your ability to think. A private place where you feel comfortable helps concentrate the mind, although different people may prefer different conditions. Some people find music useful to encourage concentration and some use sound in the background as a way to force themselves to focus on the task at hand. Generally, however, a quiet location is more suitable. Everything you need for your studies should be ready and you should make sure that there will be no interruptions. [more ...]
Control
Sometimes the mind drifts away from the object of study even in an ideal 'study situation.' Check yourself if your attention gives in to other thoughts. Refocus on the subject, look at the book or computer screen again, take a minute to recap what you were doing. If you see that your mind keeps wandering off, use voice commands. Call your name, or choose a sentence that you will repeat each time your concentration starts to weaken. Over time, this should help you keep your attention for longer. Generally, reading or speaking aloud to yourself is an excellent way to increase your level of concentration.
Breaks
Most people can concentrate fully only for a short time. Apparently, the average attention span lasts only 20 to 40 minutes. Take breaks to refresh and keep overall concentrated for longer. If you become restless, you can walk a little and have a good stretch. Breath deep, and relax if you get nervous or tired. Try looking out of the window for a few minutes, or eat something. Rest your eyes and mind for a while, and give your brain cells some good food.
Brain Food To work well, your brain needs the right 'fuel.' Glucose is as important as oxygen to your brain. Glucose is a form of sugar that delivers energy to the brain cells. When you study, your brain cells need this energy to maintain concentration. Lack of sugar in the blood stream put brain cells under stress and in severe or repeated cases some cells may die. Sugar is also important to regulate mood. Serotonin is a feel-good hormone produced by the body. Sugar increases the level of serotonin in the brain and helps you to keep in a 'good study mood.' This is not to say that you should sit down to study and reach for a sweet, a cookie, or a doughnut every 15 minutes. The right food brain is a balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Choose slow burning carbohydrates that release energy to the brain over a longer period of time (e.g. whole-meal bread, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, etc.) Add some proteins that help stabilize the level of sugar in the blood (e.g. white meat like chicken and turkey, lean red meat, fish, soy products, etc.) And treat yourself to good fats that boost your mood but are not too high in cholesterol and saturated fat (e.g. dried fruit like nuts and apricots or sultanas, yogurt, dark chocolate in moderation, etc.) Instead of biscuits, crisps, and other processed food, try snacks of fresh fruit like apples and vegetables like carrots; dried raisins added to a low-fat yogurt; a bowl of oats with a chopped banana; a crisp rice cracker with a little fruit marmalade; or a small omelette with veggies. |
Stress
Interestingly, some research has highlighted the advantages of stress: stress may be beneficial, if it is of moderate density and short duration. Some people need to study for a deadline, for instance, and others perform better under a certain degree of pressure. That said, do not make cramming a habit. The energy spent in it would be better used in conceiving a good schedule and sticking to it.
Attitude
As always, the right attitude is of paramount importance. If you keep thinking 'I cannot do it.' or 'It is boring.', you make it much harder for yourself. Try to see the interesting side of what you are learning: if you are curious, it is easier to pay attention and do it for longer. Often, the beginning is the hardest part: once you start reading or practicing, you become absorbed into the subject almost without noticing.
Time
A good schedule is also crucial. Include in it everything you can organize. You may even allot a certain time to deal with problems. Some call this 'worry time.' It helps to know that each day there is a precise time when you can devote all your thoughts to whatever troubles you have. Like with any plan, the trick is that you have to keep to it. Once your 'worry time' is over, you have to move on and concentrate on the next task!
Occasionally, you have to 'give up' because you just can't work concentrated. There are times when something else is simply more pressing. Accidents and lucky chances occur. Happiness or worries may take your attention away. If it is something really important, take time to attend to it. Go back to your studies when you have more peace of mind.
Conclusions
• Think of all the factors that influence your ability to concentrate, and try to create the best conditions in which to study. There is not a unique way to focus and maintain concentration. You need to find what works best for you.
• Organizing your time and preparing the appropriate environment help to have the right attitude. If you approach your studies in the right frame of mind, it is easier to concentrate and get results.
