Having trouble focusing? Getting distracted and lacking concentration?
Follow these tips to get you back on track…
Avoid Distractions
- Turn off twitter, email, facebook, IM, browser
- Turn off television audio and mobile phone (i know i know! harsh!)
- Schedule time(s) to check the above
Plan your Time
- Write your To Do list for the day then schedule a time later on to review then forget about it.
- Keep a notepad nearby for random ideas as they hit you, then forget about them.
- Plan your work time, give yourself mini deadlines (as in “What About Bob?”, Baby Steps, Baby Steps”)
- Decide what to do in advance when the computer is doing automated stuff, eg rendering/bouncing down/burning to CD or DVD
Create a Focus-Friendly Environment
- Plenty of natural light
- Kill the fluorescent lights
- Keep a glass of water/liquid nearby to drink
- Eat a substantial, healthy breakfast (nothing makes you want to go back to bed and sleep than a cooked breakfast! Come on, admit it 😉 )
- Keep snacks to hand if you’re the muncher-type
- Let everyone know who might interrupt you that you’re not to be disturbed for the next hour or 2 (best to be specific about the length of time)
- Don’t sit with your back to the door – arrange your office/studio/study/workspace so that you can at least see it out of the corner of your eye. Â If this is impossible, get a mirror up on the wall in front of you so you can see what’s going on behind you!
- Keep your workspace functionally tidy.  Let the chi flow! 😉
- Burn incense or aromatic essential oils – eucalyptus, rosemary, mint/menthol, lemon are supposed to help with concentration… i find vanilla and lavender help me relax and get into the flow.
- Sit comfortably
More Tips…
- Do one thing at once, with 100% of your concentration, don’t split your focus, do not multitask
- Divide larger, daunting tasks into smaller, bitesize chunks, list them, and tick them off as you go
- Get enough sleep, and get good-quality sleep
- Exercise
- Don’t overuse stimulants such as coffee or
- Don’t eat lots of fatty or high GI foods; do eat plenty of fruit, and don’t forget your greens!
- Listen to music (this never works for me though… I’ll just sit and listen to it 😉 )
- Meditation – meditate your way into the flow zone (or just listen to a Meditation CD)
- Schedule breaks, keep it fresh
- Get a change of scenery, work somewhere different
Now… back to work with youse!
great Heather,
Meditation is the primary practice I have found that leads to effective concetration when practicing, performing, and all other aspects of my life.
And the last change of scenery can really be inspiring when time and opportunity permits. For me this happens with our yearly trip to SE Asia, but can alsobe a trip to the beach or mountains.
This past weekend just moving my music time from the basement to the living room made a huge difference. My wife was away so I had our home to myself.
patrick http://www.PatrickSmithMusic.com