The ability to concentrate does not exceed 30-45 minutes without interruption, but (like memory or creativity) it is one of the skills that can be trained and developed. Why and how can you stay focused when your brain is used to constantly switching from one task to another? What are the techniques for improving concentration?
Why do we lack concentration?
3 key factors :
- Quality of life: fatigue, poor diet, being too sedentary, etc.
- The environment: noise, colleagues, uncomfortable position, disorganised workspace, stress, anxiety, etc.
- Lack of discipline: hyper-connectivity (smartphone notifications, social networks, etc.)
3 essential techniques for improving concentration
Improving your quality of life:
- Get enough sleep and maintain a balanced diet
- Regular physical activity, even if not intense
- Meditate
Organising your environment :
- Creating a calm and tidy workspace
- Cut yourself off from the noise if necessary
- Avoid time-wasters: smartphones, the Internet, chatting with colleagues, etc.
Discipline yourself :
- Do only one thing at a time
- Define time slots dedicated to specific tasks
- Note the thought that causes the drift and come back to it when the task is finished
- Defining precise objectives
- Reward yourself for each task completed
What are the benefits?
- Better productivity and quality at work
- Reducing errors
- Time saving
Useful tools to help you concentrate
- Time management applications: Trello, Todoist, Forest
- Distraction blockers: Freedom, Focus@Will
- Stopwatches or timers for work sessions
