Are You Really Concentrating?

Related products on self esteem and self confidence.

The ability to totally concentrate on a task without being distracted is one of the most valuable skills that anyone can develop. The most intelligent, gifted or educated person is unlikely to succeed without being able to focus on important tasks and concentrate totally on their completion.

Any person with even average intelligence who can discipline themselves to concentrate 100% on their highest priorities, will almost certainly achieve better results than supposedly 'smarter' people who can't, don't or won't. Whether natural or learned, there's no doubt that successful people in all fields have well developed concentration skills.

Concentration can be described as the ability to direct your thinking and to focus on the task at hand without being distracted. As children, most of us were able to concentrate, at least on the things that interested us. In fact, it's possible that one of the reasons our abilities to concentrate seem to deteriorate as we grow older, may be because our parents, teachers and others tried to get us to concentrate on things they wanted us to be interested in rather than the things we were interested in.

Most people, whatever their age, are still able to completely lose themselves in things they enjoy. In these cases, concentrating is rarely difficult. When it's more likely to be a problem is when we have to do something that we aren't that interested in, or find boring, or when we are at work.

Then you may find your mind wanders from one thing to another, and you are easily distracted by other things without even noticing. You may find yourself thinking about what you'll be doing this weekend with your friends, or worrying about your problems.
Many people are easily distracted and stop and start things they are dealing with, or jump from one job to another, wasting vast amounts of time and losing momentum in the process, causing tasks to take dramatically longer than they would have taken if dealt with without diversion.

Making the conscious decision to single-mindedly concentrate on your most important tasks puts you 'in the zone' or allows you 'to get in the flow'. These may be cliches, but they do clearly describe feelings most people are familiar with. I'm sure everyone can remember times when you were being incredibly productive and everything was just going exactly as you wanted it to, almost effortlessly. This can happen almost without us even being aware of it, or with apparently little input on our part.

Sometimes it may even feel like you're performing in your own film, as if you were being subconsciously driven and guided in your actions, and that everything was just opening up in front of you. You may even feel like a spectator watching a film of yourself. This is actually a common feeling described by sportsmen and women and athletes when they are performing at their absolute peak. They often describe feeling removed from the events, as if watching themselves perform rather than actively participating.

This usually happens when you know exactly what outcome you are expecting, totally concentrate on taking the necessary actions, and fully expect to succeed. Improving your ability to concentrate can massively improve your productivity and make these sort of events the rule rather than the exception.
Improving concentration comes down to practice and willpower. As our minds are designed to carry out more than one thing at a time, it takes discipline and concerted effort to focus all our attention on a single task.

It's common for our attention to be split in many directions; in fact humans would have been unlikely to have survived as a race without this ability.
You can try to keep your attention on a task by thinking about how pleased you will be to have it behind you and done. Remind yourself that dragging any task out, particularly unpleasant or boring tasks, will just make it seem much worse than it would be if you completed it quickly. That should help to discipline you to return to the task whenever your mind wanders. If you keep forcing youself to refocus your concentration should improve.

Whatever you're doing, try to get comfortable and keep your body still and take breaks and drink water regularly. If you find yourself fidgeting and losing focus and you can't easily concentrate, give yourself a short break - try taking some deep breaths, doing some stretching or walk around the room or even go outside. Movement and activity should help to clear your head.

There are ways you can practise concentrating. Sit quietly in a room and look at an object (not the TV!) and give it your full attention, or close your eyes and hold a single picture of an object, scene, or idea in your mind. Pay close attention to all details and consciously block out any other thoughts whenever they enter your mind so that you become immersed in whatever you are concentrating on. If you practise this you'll find that it will get much easier to concentrate without distractions for longer periods, and you'll also improve your memory.

Never tell yourself 'I can't concentrate' because you can rest assured this will be a self fulfilling prophecy. But so will saying 'I can and will concentrate'. When most people say 'I can't' what they're usually saying is 'I won't try'. It's really all down to your willpower, self discipline and belief.

How well you are able to concentrate single mindedly on your most important tasks at any time will be one of the most decisive of all factors in determining your levels of success and achievement, whatever your walk of life. Anyone who has learned how to fully concentrate and focus on their highest priorities without distractions will be amongst the most productive and successful people in their field, so it's definitely a skill well worth mastering.

Related Articles on Self Development And Self Improvement

Believe In Yourself And Become a Winner: Lessons from Hollywood
A while ago I made it a point to watch the movie "Legally Blonde." Not just for the bright, chirpy and eminently watchable Reese Witherspoon,... more on believing in yourself.

Why I Avoid Negative People Like The Plague
If you're trying to make any sort of change in your life, to take your self or your business to a higher level, there's a certain kind... more on avoiding negative people.

All The Secrets About Getting The Right Plan For You
Find out everything there is to know about the different types of cell phone plans on the market today. Should you go on a plan or... more getting the right plan.

Living a Balanced Life
I was at a business meeting recently with a group of highly successful managers. When I say 'highly successful' I mean... more on living a balanced life.

It's Just Not Fair!
How many times do you go through your daily life complaining that something is just not fair? Once upon a time time there was a wealthy manufacturer... more on complaining not fair.

Dining On Elephants Or The Secret Of The Law Of The Slight Edge
The Japanese term "Kaizen" means the process of continuous, ongoing, small, steady incremental improvements. It's the magic of taking... more on dining elephants.

You Gotta Believe!
Sun Tzu in the Art of War talks about the perils of a leader who lacks the ability to be decisive. When battling in business today, you are watched... more on believing.

How An "Attitude Of Gratitude" Can Help Us
It is easy for any of us to sometimes think that we have more problems than we can deal with, or to feel we are in a rut and can't see any way out. More on attitude of gratitude.

Color--The Pathway To The Soul
You are what you eat, and you are what you think, but do you know that you are also the color that you choose? The fact that colors have psychological... more on color.

How to Improve Your Driving!
Rather you are just beginning, as an amateur in the game of golf or a veteran player; we all wish we could improve our drive. What many of us do... more on improving your driving.

The Gift
Give yourself the gift of laughter, song, and love. Touch your life with your own magnificence. You are the ocean. Life itself. You are everything that... more on the gift.

Discover Fire Again
Today is going to cost you one day of your life. It is an opportunity to invent yourself. Consider this day as special. You can waste it by doing... more on discovering fire.

Only Thoughtful Planning And Discipline Can Lead To Goal Powers
The worst disassemble round wanting to read about information is looking for it. With so many sources of information on the internet one would... more on thoughtful planning.

Learn 5 Quick Ways To Build Rapport
Now let's take a quick peak at the basics of developing rapport with others. In a nutshell, what it takes is to ask questions, have a positive,... more on building rapport.

Learn Some Important Basics Of Body Language
Body language is the meaning behind the words or the "unspoken" language. Surprisingly, studies show that only up to an estimated 10 percent... more on body language.

Are You Really Concentrating?
The ability to totally concentrate on a task without being distracted is one of the most valuable skills that anyone can develop. The most intelligent,... more on concentrating.

How To Build Rapport With Prospects
There are five major things that you need to focus on to build rapport. The first essential skill is body language. You must learn to read... more on building rapport with prospects.

How Setting Goals Can Make You Wildly Successful
Seeing astounding results from Goal-Setting. The first question I get is "What does this have to do with Real Estate Investing?" Technically, nothing. More on setting goals.

Believe And Achieve
The fundamental law of human achievement is the law of belief. It suggests that you always behave in a manner consistent with your beliefs. More on believe and achieve.

Sell Yourself in Ninety Seconds or Less: How to Develop a Great Elevator Pitch
What comes to people's mind when they say your name? You probably haven't given it a lot of thought; few of us have. When we don't develop... more on selling yourself.

How To Be Happy
We are living in world amidst so much of unlucky people, poverty, violence, stress, competition, and all sorts of sadness inducing environment you can think of. More on being happy.

How to Choose the Right Goals to Focus On
By setting goals, and measuring their achievement, you are able to see what you have done and what you are capable of. More on choosing the right goals to focus on.

Make Your Next Move Easier
Most people really enjoy the experience of finding that new home or apartment to live in. Yet, I haven't met a person to this day that enjoys the process of moving. More on moving.

The Fountain of Youth: Found At Last?
The promise of a longer life has always fascinated mankind. In the past, people built monuments, wrote books, and discovered new lands as ways of immortalizing themselves. More on longer life.

Tips to Manage Your Time
Time and money are both very important in business. Yet, like me, many business people tend to give a lot more specific thought as to how to spend their money. More on managing your time.

Boost Your Self Esteem
Self esteem is your own personal view of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Everyone has a different view of themselves, but keeping a positive outlook will benefit you more than a negative one. Many individuals suffer from low self esteem for a variety of reasons and need to build their self esteem in order... more.

Excellent Articles on Self Esteem And Self Confidence

Tips and other useful information on self improvement and self development: 01, 02, 03, 04