A lack of concentration translates into short attention span, restlessness, and a tendency of getting distracted easily. This shows in your work and life in general, negatively affecting the quality of both. Following are several short and long routes to achieving the essential goal of being a person with the ability to focus.
1.Be aware.
Write down the times when you sat down to complete a goal but wandered off thinking about something else. Reflect on the list at the end of each day, to note your peak hour of the day, or tasks which require more concentration and discipline. Bringing the frequency of losing focus into your mind helps you be conscious about it and address it directly.
2.Give in to the temptation.
Allot time to dream weaving or making notes of all things that worry you and prevent you from concentrating on one task at a time. This helps contain scattered thoughts of the mind.
3.Exercise!
Avoid sitting for hours in one place. Get up and take a walk to get the oxygen flowing to your brain. This can refresh your mood and rejuvenate your power of concentration and retention.
4.One step at a time.
Avoid multitasking. It is better to focus your energies on one task instead of spreading your energies on multiple tasks. Give importance in practice of completing of one task before beginning another.
5.Exclusive place of work.
Separate your place of work from your place of having meals or taking naps. Your bed is not your work table and vice versa! This conditions your brain to think about work at the desk and be completely relaxed in bed.
6.Ideal amount of rest.
Your mind feels fresh and ready to concentrate if it has had enough rest. Keep a fixed time of waking up and going to sleep. Make sure you get the amount of sleep in hours daily that is ideal for you, which can be anything between 4 to 8 hours. Sleeping too much leads to lethargy, disrupting your natural rhythm.
7.Meditation.
Meditation does not necessarily mean keeping calm for an hour every morning. You can practice one minute meditation, either at home, or during work, or while commuting. Anywhere you get a few minutes to yourself, seat yourself in the most comfortable and balanced position you can, and concentrate on one thing- perhaps the sound of the bus you're travelling in, or on a keyword you keep chanting in your mind, for a minute or two. Block out external and internal noise. Remove your mental clutter for a while and observe the difference it makes.
8.Maintain a proper diet.
Overeating can make you lethargic, while starving can lead to loss of stamina. Both scatters your brain and does not allow you to concentrate properly. A balanced, light diet is essential to help you feel light and energetic through the day!
Though increasing concentration requires considerable investment in both time and effort, it gives great returns!