Techniques to Improve Concentration - 17-06-2004, 12:15 PM

Techniques to Improve Concentration

1. Jot down things that are on your mind before you study, then set this list to the side. Add to it
anything that distracts you as you are studying. Take care of the list later.

2. Study at the same time each day. A regular schedule can help you frame this as “study time”.

3. Set a timer for an hour, don't allow yourself to stop studying until it goes off.

4. Take breaks. A three minute break for every 30 minutes of study is a good guideline. Take a longer
break after 90 minutes.

5. Set goals for your session that are realistic (number of problems to solve, pages to read, etc.)
When you have met one of your study goals, reward yourself with a short break. Then, return to your
study area.

6. Study in an area away from distractions such as a library, study lounge, or an empty classroom.

7. Make sure you have everything that you need before you begin.

8. Make sure your environment is conducive to studying, no TV, no telephone, no roommate, no

boyfriend/girlfriend.

9. Make studying an active process; take notes and make review sheets. Intersperse different kinds of
study into one session, e.g. reading, writing, taking notes, memorizing, etc.

10. Identify how what you are studying is relevant to your life. Draw connections between things you
already know.

11. Insure that you are sleeping enough, eating well, and getting regular exercise. Your mind will be
more alert, and you will be less likely to fall asleep or daydream.

Regards,
PEARL.
17-06-2004, 12:47 PM
10 Tips 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. Prepare to Concentrate - Have everything you will need before you begin to study: pencils, pens,
paper, notes, textbooks, reference books, etc.

3. Use concentration 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 for 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, and Semester Academic 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.

Techniques to Improve Concentration and improve ur memory - 24-06-2004, 02:47 AM

hi all!!!!!

i hav attached software memtrain with this message..........its a gud s/w to improve ur
memory............
try it n c 4 urself..........
it is totally free to use n u can send it to nebody u like but both the files hsould be included in the
zipped one..............
so folks.........download n improve ur memory.

Re: Techniques to Improve Concentration - 24-06-2004, 11:16 AM

Fantastic thread here! I guess it must be made a sticky one!

Well I have a questions folks...how do you manage to keep your concentration during tests...say like
CAT or GMAT for the full duration? I mean do anyone practice any techniques for this?

regards,
25-06-2004, 01:21 AM
hello parveen!!!
though i hav given a few mock tests but one thing i hav noticed abt concentration in an exam like this
that while attempting questions my mind wonders about the correctness of some previous question or
it may think of clearing the cutoff etc. somethime some other thoughts enter my mind eg ohh yaar
yeh topic agli baar acchhi tarah karoongaa , ohhhh is question ko to usne seconds mein nikaal liya
hoga, is mock test mein first 100 mein rank nahin aayegi etc.....these stray thoughts affect
concentration on other questions n accuracy drops........so now what i hav been doing is I recall all
other thoughts which came in my mind in the test & i make a sort of bookmark in a diary abt
these thoughts .........bfore the test i read these n while attempting the next test those previous
thoughts donot come in my mind automatically ( i really dont know how , but it works for me)............
so the net result is i think (its my opinion only.other may think i m too duffer that stray thoughts like
this come in my mind) we should limit these types of stray thoughts to enter our mind .....this has
direct result on our conc too.......
hope u understand.......
sunish
Re: Techniques to Improve Concentration - 25-06-2004, 08:03 AM
Mental Power
We can only expend energy and perform work up to a certain fixed maximum rate. If we are to
attempt to lift twenty rocks each weighing 25-kg. and remove them to another spot fifty meters away,
we could do so. We would have to move slowly and to rest between rocks so that the body could
renew its energy supply at a rate equal to that at which it was expended.
If however the twenty 25 kg. rocks were united into one 500 kg. boulder, we would not be able to lift
it. We do not have enough energy and can't expend it quickly enough to lift the rock at a stroke. The
rate at which energy is expended is called "power." And although we have enough energy (given
enough time) to lift a 500 kg. boulder, we do not possess sufficient power for the purpose.

The same principle applies to the mind. If we were to focus our eyes on a specific dot on a white wall
for one hour, we could do so. We would have to focus in short increments of maybe 5 to 20 seconds
and rest between focusing efforts so that the mind could renew its energy supply at a rate equal to
that which it was expended.

Increased Energy Supply

It is possible to increase the bodies energy supply and power through exercise and training. A well-
trained fit body can expend more energy over a shorter period of time. It has more power. The
increased physical energy would enable us to lift heavier weights, run faster and longer, sleep less,
work harder be healthier and so on. It is also possible to increase the minds energy supply and power
through mental training and exercise. This would increase our mental powers enabling us to expend
more energy over a shorter period of time. The mental energy would enable us to focus and
concentrate better, be more creative, improve our memory, improve our imagination, intuition and
reasoning and problem solving abilities, in fact, it would enhance and improve all our inherent mental
abilities.

The Foundation of Mental Performance

Mental trainings come in all sizes and colors, shapes and forms. The most widespread training is
through school where special emphasis is put on acquiring knowledge and reasoning abilities. Then
there are courses that teach memory techniques, speed-reading, creativity, intuition and focus and
concentration. It seems that the basic foundation of all successful mental performance is the ability to
focus and concentrate. Whatever you do with the mind you always have to use focus. The more you
can focus the easier it is to finish the task. Oriental yogis put great emphasis on teaching focus and
concentration. Business people often say that the ability to sustain focus is one of the keys to success
in business. Athletes and coaches often talk about the importance of good focus and concentration.

Busy 24 hours a day

In its normal state a healthy human brain is constantly active. Its constantly busy monitoring,
adjusting and repairing the body in order to make it function with optimum efficiency. Out of all that
activity arises the mind which is also perpetually busy and active in associating, sensing, perceiving,
retrieving and storing data in order to keep you alive and well in a competitive and challenging
society.

This constant activity is one of the biggest obstacles to good focus and concentration. Its can be very
difficult to focus and concentrate when thoughts and emotions are always interfering with our
attention. If this is the normal way in which the brain and mind work, then how do we focus and
concentrate when all this activity is going on? One well-known method is to focus on a simple image
like a red triangle and persist in seeing it clearly in our minds eye. And if it becomes fuzzy or unclear
to recall it again and again to fight off the constant interference of the mind. Gradually the mind gives
in and calms down and we gain more and more control over our thoughts. Usually this takes months
of head crunching daily practice, which is a pain in the neck. But why is it so difficult and time
consuming to tame and control the mind?

The Frog and the Scientist

A scientist put a frog into hot water to see how it would react, and sure enough the frog immediately
jumped out of the water. But when he put the same frog into lukewarm water which it liked, and
heated the water very, very slowly, surprisingly enough the frog didn't jump out and got cooked. The
frog didn't notice the gradually rising heat because it happened so slowly, and before it realized it, it
was to late.
Mental Morphing
A close examination of the process of thought and emotion and this constant shifting from one
thought to the other reveals a well known phenomenon called morphing. A popular computer and
video image trick today is to morph one face into another different face. Morphing is how one thought
or emotion changes into another one. It morphs one image into another image and even morphs
images into dialogs or emotions or any combination of these.

When you try to concentrate on a specific image the morphing happens so quickly and subtly that,
much like the frog, we don't notice it until its to late. In a manner of speaking, we're cooked. When is
the image the same and when has it morphed just a little bit? We are deceived into thinking we are
looking at the same image when it has actually morphed halfway into something else, and then some
more. If the change happened suddenly we'd notice it immediately, in the same way as the frog that
detected hot water. To prevent itself from ending up on the scientists dinner plate the frog would have
to watch carefully any change in the water temperature and jump out if it got to hot. To prevent
ourselves from ending up in the dungeons of our mind we have to watch very carefully any changes in
the morphing and stop it before it enslaves our focus.

Establishing an Higher Order

Actually seeing the image clearly or not in our minds eye is just half the story. Its not our main
concern; a secondary objective. The primary objective is to increase the ability to focus and
concentrate. So how is it possible to increase focus and concentration without actually seeing an
image? The answer is Intent. Intent establishes a higher order beyond the mind and enables us to
focus on the image whether we see it clearly or not. The intention to see the image keeps the focus
active. Whether you actually see the image clearly or not in your mind is not important as long as you
stay in control of the focus. Its fine if you actually see the image, but you don't have to worry if you
don't see it because you can focus on the intention of seeing the image.

CONCENTRATION EXERCISES

hi all...........posting here some concentration exercises.........these r gud.....do these n see the results
urself:
Exercise 1

Sit in a comfortable chair and see how still you can keep. This is not as easy as it seems. You will have
to center your attention on sitting still. Watch and see that you are not making any involuntary
muscular movements. By a little practice you will find you are able to sit still without a movement of
the muscles for fifteen minutes. At first I advise sitting in a relaxed position for five minutes. After you
are able to keep perfectly still, increase the time to ten minutes and then to fifteen. This is as long as
it is necessary. But never strain yourself to keep still. You must be relaxed completely. You will find
this habit of relaxing is very good.

Exercise 2

Sit in a chair with your head up and your chin out, shoulders back. Raise your right arm until it is on
the level with your shoulder, pointing to your right. Look around, with head only, and fix your gaze on
your fingers, and keep the arm perfectly still for one minute. Do the same exercise with left arm.
When you are able to keep the arm perfectly steady, increase the time until you are able to do this
five minutes with each arm. Turn the palm of the hand downward when it is outstretched, as this is
the easiest position. If you will keep your eyes fixed on the tips of the fingers you will be able to tell if
you are keeping your arm perfectly still.

Exercise 3
Fill a small glass full of water, and grasp it by the fingers; put the arm directly in front of you. Now fix
the eyes upon the glass and try to keep the arm so steady that no movement will be noticeable. Do
this first for one moment and then increase it to five. Do the exercise with first one arm and then the
other.

Exercise 4

Watch yourself during the day and see that your muscles do not become tense or strained. See how
easy and relaxed you can keep yourself. See how poised you can be at all times. Cultivate a self-
poised manner, instead of a nervous, strained appearance. This mental feeling will improve your
carriage and demeanor. Stop all useless gestures and movements of the body. These mean that you
have not proper control over your body. After you have acquired this control, notice how "ill-at-ease"
people are that have not gained this control. I have just been sizing up a salesman that has just left
me. Part of his body kept moving all the time. I just felt like saying to him, "Do you know how much
better appearance you would make if you would just learn to speak with your voice instead of trying
to express what you say with your whole body?" Just watch those that interview you and see how they
lack poise.

Get rid of any habit you have of twitching or jerking any part of your body. You will find you make
many involuntary movements. You can quickly stop any of these by merely centering your attention
on the thought, "I will not."

If you are in the habit of letting noises upset you, just exercise control; when the door slams, or
something falls, etc., just think of these as exercises in self-control. You will find many exercises like
this in your daily routine.

The purpose of the above exercises is to gain control over the involuntary muscular movement,
making your actions entirely voluntary. The following exercises are arranged to bring your voluntary
muscles under the control of the will, so that your mental forces may control your muscular
movements.

Exercise 5

Move your chair up to a table, placing your hands upon it, clenching the fists, keeping the back of the
hand on the table, the thumb doubled over the fingers. Now fix your gaze upon the fist for a while,
then gradually extend the thumb, keeping your whole attention fixed upon the act, just as if it was a
matter of great importance. Then gradually extend your first finger, then your second and so on until
you open the rest. Then reverse the process, closing first the last one opened and then the rest, and
finally you will have the fist again in the original position with the thumb closed over the finger. Do
this exercise with the left hand. Keep up this exercise first with one hand and then the other until you
have done it five times with each hand. In a few days you can increase it to ten times.

The chances are that the above exercises will at first make you "tired," but it is important for you to
practice these monotonous exercises so you can train your attention. It also gives you control over
your muscular movement. The attention, of course, must be kept closely on each movement of the
hand; if it is not, you of course lose the value of the exercise.

How to increase concentration power during study?

 i am in first year of engineering(compuer), many times i am can not give 100% concentration on
my study. Unnecessary thoughts like friends conversations etc. come in my mind.
 5 years ago
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Ministry of Camp Revivalism

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Take a short nap to clear your mind.
Prepare your study area to be clean, tidy and look set up for serious work.
Sit yourself upright and in a work-like stature- this will reinforce you to be in 'study-mode'.
Remove as many distractions from your study as possible- pets,
brothers/sisters/friends/phones/dorm rats. Turn anything that makes a noise off.
NO TV! It distracts!TV only when you've been a good student and studied (as a reward to
positively reinforce your behaviour).
No Internet surfing- time to stop stuffing around and hit the BOOKS!

Positively reinforce your good habits by thinking about how much you want to study and why
you will be a good person for doing it.
Listen to some light, moderate volume music (Classical music such as Bach or Mozart has been
clinically shown to increase IQ and concentration))- but any should be fine as long as it's not too
loud.
You can stimulate your left and right cerebral hemispheres by touching your right elbow to your
left-knee and then doing the same for the left-elbow/right-knee.
Also drawing a large horizontal figure-eight in front of your eyes with your index and following
it with your eyes in exaggerated movements will stimulate left and right hemispheres as well as
the occular nervous system and you will be far more receptive to your written material.
Use as many colours and highlights as possible- the brain has better recollection of colours and
shapes than any other abstract.
Repeat, repeat, repeat everything three times, three times, three times! The mind recalls repeition
but not too much.
Make silly little rhymes and song tunes/ditties from your study notes or equations.
Study in short bursts such as 30 mins studies with a ten in break- which you must stick to! The
mind copes best with short bursts of work rather than unproductive, long, draining study
sessions.
Teach yourself study is not only good, but kind of fun and think of it with a positive frame of
mind as this will subconsciously trick your brain into thinking it's an activity it enjoys doing!
There, I've let the cat out of the bag. I have two Masters and a PhD too by the way- and I
remember all too well the annoying but always distracting dorm people, over-sexed room-mates,
chasing skirt, getting blind drunk and doing everything but study- but it's not so bad once you
trick your brain into liking it ;D!
Best of luck- now read those BOOKS!
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Asker's Rating:
  srinivasarao c
every time u remind ur father and mother and their expectaions from u , u need to full fill their
expectations, i think every body in young age attract to surrounding people , once u get success
everything will come for u pl concentrate on ur studies everything will come for u and then u can
enjoy ur sucess with ur parents and ur friends . pl dont compare to others but u are inspiration to
others. i think u can go a head through a systematic way and i wish u all the best.thank u.
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 girl from oz
Make sure your fed, watered & rested. There's 3 things off your mind already! Have an open
window to maximise the oxygen to your brain.
Set aside some time to ponder on your day. This will free your mind at other times.
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 Dilli Chor
Deep breathing exercises will help.Do it on the regular basis
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 a_psycho...
Hi.

I also have this problem when studying / proof reading etc. The point of interest is that the
human brain can only truly concentrate on a single subject for a period of about twenty minutes.
- So separate your study periods into twenty minute sections, with five to ten minutes off in
between, where you do something completely different.

This also captures the best way in which memory works. Memory has a 'primacy effect' and a
'recency effect.' This means that the pieces of information which you remember best are at the
beginning of a study session and at the end of a study session, so group the most vital bits of
information towards the beginning and end of your study sessions.

Also, consider the way you learn best. Some people are visual learners (they actually need to see
it happen), some are auditory learners, (these people learn best by attending lectures), some are
concrete learners, (these folks have to get practically involved with whatever it is they are trying
to learn). So find your best way of learning, split it into 20 minute chunks and away you go!

Hope this helps.

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 Skittles
Be in a silent area while studying.
Be in a place where you havent talked to friends recently.
o 5 years ago