Concentration

Creative Problem Solving Course

Imagine how much more productive you'd be if you had total concentration whenever you wished. The good news is that you can learn how to concentrate better. In fact, you can do so right now.

Concentration Is Automatic

When you begin work on something, concentration is automatic until you are distracted, usually by your own thoughts. That might be every few seconds for some of us, but what if you had a method of removing the distractions, of controlling your wandering mind? When there's nothing interfering, you have easy and complete concentration.

Remove Your Mind Irritations

Here's a powerful technique for clearing your mind. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Let the tension drain from your muscles. Start paying attention to what is going on in your head.

Is there a phone call you need to make, that has been quietly bothering you all day, just below consciousness? Perhaps you are worried about an upcoming meeting. Tune in to your mind. Even after one day of doing this, it will become easier.

As you become aware of these stressors, do something with them to let them go for the moment. For example, make the phone call, or make a note about it, and your mind will usually let go of that concern for now. Just bringing a problem to full consciousness and telling yourself something like, "There is nothing I can do about this right now," will often stop the unconscious worrying.

After using this technique a few times, it becomes easier to recognize what's just below the surface, irritating you and sapping your concentration. Do what you can to set these mind irritations aside. Then you'll be better able to focus on the task at hand.

Why Do You Want To Concentrate?

Here's a simple trick. Just honestly answer the above question. Often it's difficult to concentrate because you're bored. The cure for this is to stop to consider why concentration is important (if it is). See the benefits clearly, and it will be easier to focus your mind. So why do you want to concentrate?

Meditate

Meditating helps concentration because of the deep breathing involved, and the self-awareness that can result. The exercise above for removing "mind irritations" is actually just a simplified mindfulness-meditation.

The state of mind achieved through a simple breath-watching meditation allows true relaxation, and is very conducive to creative problem solving. Just close your eyes and breath through your nose, deeply at first, then in whatever way is comfortable. As thoughts arise, dismiss them and return your attention to your breath.

That's all there is to it. Do this for at least a few minutes, and you should feel more relaxed and able to concentrate better. For more on meditation, see the note after the lesson.

Remove Distractions

Stephen King writes with loud music on, so what distracts or doesn't distract each of us, is obviously personal. Whatever it is that takes your mind away from the task at hand, do something about it. Turn off the television, feed your growling stomach, or turn your desk away from the window.

Take care of the external and the internal distractions, and you'll be able to focus your attention and brain power like a spotlight. That's worth a little effort, isn't it?

Recommended:

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Problem Solving 101 | Concentration