What are your tips for concentrating?

Question

I have a paper due tommorw and I need to start doing it now, but It takes me foreve beause I get so easily distracted, as you can see im on Yahoo!Answers when I should be doing the paper... can anyone give me help on how to focus on this paper and nothing else?

Answer 1

Causes of poor concentration include:

Lack of sleep
Poor nutrition
Depression
Negative feelings about work
Anxiety
Distractions
Negative feelings about yourself
Stress
Poor time management
Medication
Alcohol
To improve concentration you will need to tackle some of these causes. As with any skill, this is something we learn and there are steps you can take to help.

Examine your emotional state

People find it hard to concentrate when they are upset, depressed, stressed or worried. There are many reasons for this, including anxiety, financial or domestic problems, pressure etc. Whatever the cause, get as much information on the problem as possible by reading about it, talking to friends or getting in contact with a service. If you already have strategies to maintain a sense of well-being, consider how these could be incorporated into your educational lifestyle.

Ensure you are sleeping enough

Studies show that poor sleep habits affect concentration and memory and the effects of sleeping too little build up on you. Your mind will be more alert after a good night’s sleep, but regular sleeping patterns improve concentration for a longer period.

Eat well

Eating a good breakfast helps concentration, particularly in the morning when you need it most. Keep your blood-sugar balanced with complex carbohydrates such as fresh fruit, whole-grain cereal and skimmed milk. Remember the brain also needs protein, vitamins and minerals. These are essential for keeping you alert.

Get regular exercise

Exercise improves blood flow to the brain, enabling blood-sugar to reach it. This can help co-ordinate right and left brain functions by exercising the information flow between the two hemispheres.

Know when you can concentrate

Concentration is harder to maintain when you’re tired, so tackle difficult tasks when you are mentally and physically fresh. This means getting to know the times of day when you work best and stopping when you get too tired. Studying at the same time each day can help.

Be specific in your estimates of time and set goals

Be realistic! Don't set goals that are vague or too hard, such as "I’m going to study all day Saturday," as failing this can be discouraging. Setting clear goals will focus your attention on the tasks at hand and provide important feedback about your progress.

Prepare yourself mentally by putting other things out of your mind

Note things down that are on your mind before you study and then set this list to the side. It’s easier to relax if you know you haven’t forgotten things. Add anything that distracts you to this list whilst studying. You may notice certain things keep reappearing. This is an indication you need to do something about them. Decide when and how you will do this and make a note.

Plan regular breaks

It is unlikely that you can concentrate for a whole hour. Most people’s concentration is radically reduced after 20-30 minutes. Study for short periods of time and take five minute breaks, during which you should do things to change your physical and mental activity. For example, move around to boost your circulation if you have been sitting. Listen to a favourite song, as this will help your body and brain revitalise. Take a longer break after 90 minutes, working around meal times. It is better to study often in small chunks, as this will give you time to consolidate and review the previous study session.

Find a set place for studying

Decide upon a place specific to studying (i.e. not for watching TV, reading magazines, eating or sleeping). Make sure the room has a suitable temperature, sufficient light (that doesn't glare your eyes), adequate ventilation, a comfortable chair (but not too comfortable) and a desk to spread out your materials. Examples of places include the library or a study room. Do not use your bed, as this may confuse your body and contribute to sleep problems.

Learn effective study skills

Think about how the work fits into the bigger picture of the course. Identify how what you are studying is relevant to your life and make connections between things you already know. This promotes a positive attitude and develops motivation to remain focused. Purchase a diary or calendar and fill in your commitments for the term. Then work out a reasonable length of time for each working day and week and allocate days/hours to study, rest, visit home, etc.

Get actively involved

It’s natural to concentrate when you are immersed in what you are doing. Draw diagrams, speak aloud, make mind maps and organise what you’re doing in a way that works for you. Decide whether you are a visual or auditory learner, but try to include both types as this will strengthen memory traces further. Choose topics you understand or find interesting and intersperse work for them with others that are more difficult.

Review your work regularly

Assign yourself a few minutes to review the work you have done every 30 minutes or an hour and plan ahead for the next session. This will help you reduce the workload into short segments and help evaluate your progress.

Answer 2

Get one of those wind-up kitchen timers, and keep setting it for five to ten minutes. Every time the bell rings, it will remind you that you have been distracted, and that you should get back to work on your paper. Then, on a scrap piece of paper, write down the first thing that comes to mind, the first thing relevant to the paper that is. Little by little, you'll get something done.

If that doesn't work, then hire an elderly kung fu master to watch over you as you work on the paper. Instruct him to whip you mercilessly with a bamboo cane every time you get distracted. If that doesn't work, forget your paper and join the circus.

Answer 3

play chess.. maybe not right now cause you got a paper to do, but start playin chess every once in a while, you can go to yahoo games or play with a friend or somethin. chess requires a lot of concentration. and eventually you'll be able to concentrate easier and you wont get so easily distracted.

Answer 4

Close Answers first...
No... Not really...
Well dedicate 10 real minutes just to that, you need to feel like doing the paper (really feel like that)... In order to take real time for concentrating... Everybody is doing 10,000 stuff and Answers, come on just dedicate to your paper and come back here, i will be waiting...OK

Answer 5

Unplug the phone
Turn off the TV
No food or drinks until finished

Plan a reward for yourself when it is done!

Answer 6

Get some peppremint to suck on.

Studies have shown that peppermint lower anxiety, increases ability to focus, and improves test scores.

Worth a shot!

Answer 7

What i normally do is to start studying with music.. and normally i get lost in what i'm reading and can't recall the last song i heard... you can try that.....

But the first thing you should do is.... STOP READING ANY MORE ANSWERS AND GO BACK TO STUDIES.

Answer 8

Think of how you will flunk the paper

Answer 9

watch TV listen to music play games and play guitar

Answer 10

meditate for 20mins then do your paper or just go out for a run then do it.