One major snag in any time management plan is the ability to stay focused throughout the day. Have you ever had days where you just couldn’t seem to keep it together and found yourself running in circles and getting nothing done?

Poor concentration is one common reason for a scattered mind-set. If your mind isn’t as strong and alert as it could be, you won’t be able to focus clearly for extended periods of time. Mental exercises can help because they strengthen your ability to concentrate, and will improve your focus over time.

Here’s one good exercise that help you create a strong, clear focus:

Strengthen your concentration. Twice a day, practice holding a specific object in mind steadily for 5 to 10 minutes. The item should have some detail that you can imagine, but it should also be simple to “see” it in your mind. Some good examples: an apple, a pencil, the face of your child or pet, your house as it looks from the outside, and so on. Choose something you won’t have trouble picturing, but something that requires you to focus in order to see it clearly. Call up a strong mental image of it, and then try to keep your focus on the object for a full 5 or 10 minutes without losing your focus.

This is hard to do at the beginning because your mind is probably untrained. Random thoughts and pictures may keep popping in and you’ll have to keep pulling your attention back to the object again. Don’t let this stop you! Remember, the only reason you struggle with this is because you don’t have a strong ability to focus yet. As you keep working at it daily, you’ll notice that you find it easier and easier to concentrate. The stronger your ability to concentrate during your focus sessions, the more you’ll notice you’re not having trouble concentrating at other times either.

Check back tomorrow for another tip on discovering how to strengthen your ability to focus!

Posted by Maureen | No Comments »

Tips to Improve Concentration and Memory

Recall Dory in ‘Finding Nemo’? Well if you don’t, you might be suffering from short-term memory loss like her. You just don’t plain remember. Or you believe in the myth that humans only use 10 percent of the brain, causing you to lose keys and forget numeric codes, like the ATM pin, all the time. But experts actually say that we do use all of our brain and that there is no scientific evidence to state otherwise.

Memorize. Banks suggest we commit to memory those precious numbers to allow us to withdraw cash, anytime, anywhere. The same goes for improving one’s memory and concentration. All you have to do is commit to remember and involve your brain in the thought processes of learning, understanding, and recalling.

What can you do? To jog one’s memory you literally have to have a healthy body. To have a healthy mind our body must be physically sound. Regular oxygen flow to the brain is crucial for its survival. Without the proper flow of oxygen, brain cells die, causing memory loss. So, the first step is to keep fit. You must exercise.

Next is to eat right. Never skip breakfast! In Minnesota, in a pilot School Breakfast Program, school children were given free breakfast, which helped dramatically increase their learning and academic performance. It is said that skipping breakfast interferes with cognition and learning, especially in nutritionally at-risk children.

Brain Foods. Eat foods rich in omega-3s, which are best suited for brain function and renewal of brain cell membranes. Eggs are good, too. They contains choline, a fat-like Vitamin B which enhances memory and reaction time. Have an apple a day. Enjoy your beans. Drink milk. Lick some peanut butter.

These are some foods that have low glycemic index, allowing for the better absorption of blood sugars to the brain, unlike the high glycemic sugars, such as those in sodas and junk foods, which can lead to sugar rush and mood swings. Avoid excessive alcohol drinking, fast food bingeing, and gigantic soda gulps. These contain chemicals that can interfere with your ability to learn, think, and remember.

Mind Games. Do some mind games like the free crossword puzzles found in newspapers. Word puzzles trigger word association and provoke you to think. Another popular puzzle is Sudoku, a number placement game that challenges your logic. Play board games and brain teasers or IQ tests to focus your mind and improve your concentration.

Organize. Keep lists of things you need to remember. Try to memorize the list and recall them. Take down notes and review them regularly. Learn something new. Teach yourself a new song and sing it back. Read a book and write a summary.

All around us there are memory and concentration aides. Post-it notes, alarm clocks, calendars, cards, and diaries are just some of the physical materials to help us remember. We just have to find the right one suitable to our needs.

If you forget more than just keys, where you parked the car, or your son’s birthday, consult a doctor. You may already have progressive forgetfulness, which needs a professional diagnosis. Call for an appointment. Better yet, write that down.

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Improve Your Concentration Powers with Seven Easy Steps

The power of concentration is a skill that is easy to master, that is if you have the willpower to do so.

If there is a will, there is a way according to one saying, the same goes with concentration. Popular television newscaster and personality Diane Sawyer was once asked about her secret to professional success. Her response was that paying attention was her secret.

The question therefore remains, How does one basically maintain focus and concentration?

The following are helpful tips to improve your ability to concentrate in the best way possible. These suggestions apply whether you are in the office busy with work, school, business meeting, or if you are trying to finish a particular project.

1. Do five more

There are actually two types of persons in the world: those who know how to go through in eliminating frustration and those who wish they are able to work through it.

Focus and concentrate in doing just five more things. This sort of mantra is best said when you feel like giving up.

For instance, if you feel like you no longer want to read or write any more pages, tell yourself to do just five pages more. Finish just five more math questions. Stay five minutes more on the treadmill. Take note that athletes build their own physical prowess by pushing their bodies to the point of exhaustion while they develop mental stamina.

2. Take one step at one time

There are instances when you feel like your mind is loaded with many ideas like that of a scatterbrain. The key is to control your brain.

Rather worrying on many matters, prioritize tasks and do only those that are needed.

For instance, you cannot help but think of mounting debt problems and this causes you to lose focus on the presentation that you need to do in five minutes. Tell your mind that you will think of ways to pay off your bills after your presentation. Your mind will then establish closure and allow you to focus on the presentation.

3. Train yourself to have a tunnel vision

You could actually cup your hands around your own eyes. This could serve as a trigger to tell your mind to focus on a particular responsibility.

For example, you are in a room and you need to study but there are many things prevent you from concentrating. Cupping your own hands around your own eyes could help your brain to switch to focus mode and keep it on its track.

4. Have a handy pad

When a thought pops inside your head and this causes you to lose focus, jot down this thought immediately.

Writing it down is an effective way to get it out of your mind. After which, consciously focus on the task that you need to accomplish at the moment.

5. Have a break

Remember that you are not a machine. You need to take a break to be able to focus on the task that you have to do.

Taking breaks is a good way to break down the tasks into parts that are a lot more manageable. You may take a walk outside or eat lunch out.

6. Record your start and end time

When doing work, try to record the time you began and the time when you mind begins to drift.

Doing so helps you know just how much time you spent doing actual work and the time when you start losing your concentration. Being aware leads to enlightenment.

7. Vary your activities

It is advisable to vary the activities you do in order to keep your mind active and not bored.

A bored mind will just easily float and drift away to oblivion.

All in all, these activities and tips need to be practiced regularly to be able to concentrate and focus in the things that really matters most for you.

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