TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE CONCENTRATION

1.Intend to Concentrate: Humans tend to do what they tell themselves to do. Therefore, it’s easier to concentrate if you set a specific length of time to study and consciously tell yourself that “I will concentrate” for that length of time

 2. Ready to Concentrate : Have everything you will need before you begin to study: pencils, pens, paper, notes, textbooks, reference books, etc.

3. Use Concentrating Promoting Activities: Study with a pen or pencil in hand and condense what you read into organized notes.  Rewrite and better organize lecture notes. If you study by rereading and suffer from poor concentration and poor recall, you are normal.

4.Vary your study activities: If your study style is not to focus on one subject for long periods of time, then vary what you do.  Read and take notes for awhile, formulate questions and answers for a time,
Recite and review to break the monotony. Another example is to do math problems for awhile, then read another subject, review that subject, and then go back to math.

5.Find a Non Distracting Study Environment: Study in the same place and use that place only for studying.  Remove potential sources of visual and auditory distractions or remove yourself to a less distracting study environment.

6.Set Up a Specific System of Studying and Learning: An effective step-by-step plan for studying and learning makes concentration easier. For example, take main ideas and turn them into questions and place them on one side of a notecard.  On the other side, use the details that clarify and explain each main idea as answers for your questions. Frequently and regularly look at the questions and practice reciting answers aloud from memory. Then, turn the notecard over to check your answer. If right, move on to the next notecard. If wrong, don’t move on until you read the answer aloud and quiz yourself again until you get it right.

7. Eat Regular and Well balanced Meals: Research suggests those with healthy diets earn higher grades.  Avoid quick uppers such as sugary snacks because quickly rising and falling blood sugar levels negatively affect concentration. High fat foods cause sluggishness and drowsiness. Snack on fresh fruits and vegetables.

8. Get Plenty of Night Time Sleep: Fighting sleepiness lowers concentration

9.Set Daily, Weekly, Monthly,Year Goals: It is easier to concentrate and feel motivation when you have goals and can see yourself progressing toward those goals.

10.Take Regular Study Breaks: It is normal for concentration time to vary individually from 5 minutes on up. Take a short 5-minute break when concentration wanders

11.Deep Breath When Tired
Relax for a minute and inhale & exhale.  Do this for 4 to 5 times. Now once again start to count the numbers as guided here 1…, 1…. 2…, 1…. 2…..3….., (One, one two, one two three, one two three four, like that) Do this up to 100 & then vice versa i.e., in descending order (hundred…..ninety nine….ninety eight….) like that.

OTHER TECHNIQUES

• Practice time management
• Learn relaxation exercises.  
• Rehearse and practice situations.
• LAUGH A LOT
• Learn practical coping skills.
• Decrease negative self talk.  
• Learn to feel good with a workable result – Don’t be a perfectionist.
• Build a network of friends. 

If one starts to speak on a topic and if we like it our mind starts ficusing on this and concentration starts developing. So one can say that the areas or topics or situations which we have interest or like it he or she can concentrate.  Hence  interest is the foundation of concentration.  If we’ve interest we can concentrate, if we can concentrate we can listen/observe. If we can listen/observe we can remember/recollect easily.
The environment of study should be soothing, the seating posture should be right, relaxed, comfortable,  and there should not be  disturbance with bright light.