Unfortunately, our minds are not hard-wired to stay pinpointed on one thing for very long.
This is due to the fact that our brain is constantly looking out for dangers in our environment, is constantly looking out for what is new, and has been programmed to take in and enjoy the quick and easily accessible digital media that comes with our interconnected world.
This means that we are poor at concentrating and focusing when we really need to, but there are several exercises you can use to improve your “zoning in” skills.
Read below for a few exercises you can do and a few tips that will help you concentrate.
1. Unplug Completely From The Digital World.
Block those social media profile pages and log out of that e-mail account.
When you are logged out, you won’t be met with constant interruptions.
This means you will be better able to focus on the task at hand.
2. Turn On The Music.
Although some people may find music distracting, the majority of people actually find that it helps you focus in on your own thoughts.
The key with this is that you have to like what is being played through your speakers.
So turn on the music, put it on low, and watch your focus grow.
3. Take a Few Short Breaks.
You will automatically work better if you are able to take short breaks rather than working straight through the job.
Not only does this re-energize the brain due to the break in concentration but it allows you to increase your focus by deactivating and reactivating the brain.
4. Go For a Walk and Focus on Smell.
When you head out into your environment, focus in on the smells around you.
If you have to, head to a park that is full of plants and flowers and pick one of these to focus on.
Once you are able to distinguish how one of these smells from another, concentrate on it over and over again.
This strengthens your sense of smell which, in turn, increases how well you are able to concentrate.
5. Use Time to Increase Your Focus Skills.
Similar to focusing in on smells, sit in a chair and place a clock in front of you.
If it is an analog clock, focus on nothing but the second hand as it goes around the clock face.
If it is a digital clock, focus in on the seconds counting up.
Focus in one of these until there is nothing else in your view or in your thought process.
Do this for several minutes a day until you are able to completely zone in on just that second hand.
Other than the above, make sure that you are not multi-tasking when you need to concentrate.
Multitasking, although looks simple, is actually very detrimental to how your brain works when trying to process a task at hand.
If you are focusing on more than one thing, your brain has to switch back and forth between each item, which causes your brain to slow down and become distracted.
Finally, if you need to, get up and move around.
Movement and physical exercise can help energize the brain and allow you to re-focus.