Tips to Improve Concentration

1. A simple exercise to increase concentration:
   
   This is a simple exercise to improve concentration which can be done anytime you want to study or do an important task and want your mind to be focussed on the task.
   
   On a blackboard or a large piece of paper taped to the wall, draw large sideways figure 8s (the infinity symbol) over and over with the right hand, the left hand, and both hands. If you don't have paper, do the drawing motion in the air. Start drawing really large sideways figure 8s and continue making the figure smaller and smaller until you are drawing really tiny Figures. You are then ready to begin homework, or any work that requires concentration.
   
   If anytime during your work you feel you are losing concentration, stop the work and do figure 8 exercise again. This exercise can also be done with closed eyes by imagining drawing figure 8's.
   
   This exercise helps to activate both the right and left visual fields and hence makes the brain more focussed.
2. 
   
   Do one thing at a time, set aside specific time period:
   Do one thing at a time in order to develop concentration. If you are trying to think of giving presentation at office, or studying for your exam - for the next 30 minutes or so, just think of that alone. Focus your mind on the details of the job and how you plan to do it. Let not your attention wander to other things during this time.
3. Do something as if for first or last time :We take a lot of everyday things for granted and do not observe as intently as we should. In order to develop focus and observation, try to look at tasks which you do everyday as if you are doing or seeing them for the first or the last time.
   
4. 
   
   5 more rule :
   
   "There are two kinds of people -- those who have learned how to work through frustration, and those who wish they had."
   
   From now on, if you're in the middle of a task and tempted to give up -- just do FIVE MORE. Read FIVE MORE pages. Finish FIVE MORE math problems. Work FIVE MORE minutes".
   
   By implementing this strategy, you are stretching your mind past the point of frustration and building up mental endurance just as good athletes push past the point of exhaustion by not giving up when their body initially protests of tiredness. This way they build up the stamina.
5. Unclutter your mind by writing down :While doing something important, if other worries are invading your mind thus affecting your concentration then an effective way to overcome this problem is to write down any concern you might be having on a piece of paper, next to it write down a date or time when you want to deal with this problem.
6. 
   
   Do a thing wholeheartedly:
   
   If you approach something half-heartedly, it can show in the quality of the work. In order to do things better, do them with interest. Whatever you are doing, try to find some aspect of it that interests you.If you can find something interesting in each thing you do, you can enjoy even the most mundane and boring tasks.
7. 
   
   Concentration exercises:
   
   Concentration exercises help in training your mind to concentrate more and for longer periods of time.
   
   
   Exercise 1:
   
   
   Select some thought and see how long you can hold your mind on it. It is nice to have a clock at first and keep track of the time.
   
   Suppose you decide to think about health, think of health as being a great blessing in the world. Don't let any other thought drift in. Just the moment one starts to obtrude, make it go away. Make it a daily habit of concentrating on this thought for, maybe ten minutes. Practice doing this until you can hold it to the exclusion of everything else. You might have to do this exercise regularly for 10 days or more in order to sharpen your concentration skills.
   
   
   Exercise 2:
   
   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 it perfectly , 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. Sitting still can help you avoid unnecessary bodily movements thus improving your concentration.
   Exercise 3:
   
   Concentrate on the Within. Lie down and thoroughly relax your muscles. Concentrate on the beating of your heart. Do not pay any attention to anything else. Think how this great organ is pumping the blood to every part of the body; try to actually picture the blood leaving the great reservoir and going in one stream right down to the toes. Picture another going down the arms to the tips of the fingers. After a little practice you can actually feel the blood passing through your system.
   
   If, at any time, you feel weak in any part of the body, will that an extra supply of blood shall go there. For instance, if your eyes feel tired, picture the blood coming from the heart, passing up through the head and out to the eyes.
   
   
   Exercise 4:
   Every man and woman should train himself to think clearly. An excellent exercise is to read an article in a newspaper, and see in how few words you can express it. Reading an article to get only the essentials requires the closest concentration. If you are unable to write out what you read, you will know you are weak in concentration. Instead of writing it out you can express it orally if you wish. Go to your room and deliver it as if you were talking to some one. You will find exercises like this of the greatest value in developing concentration and learning to think.
   
   After you have practiced a number of these simple exercises read a book for twenty minutes and then write down what you have read.
   It is a good idea when time is limited, only a short sentence and then try to write it down word for word. When you are able to do this, read two or more sentences and treat similarly.
8. 
   
   Be gentle with yourself:
   
   If any thoughts come to your mind then gently drive them away, and bring your mind back to the subject at hand. Do not try to force out the thoughts, it works better if you are gentle. If any thought is important one which you would like to pay attention to later, then write it down on paper.
9. 
   
   Foods that increases concentration:
   Any vitamin deficiency can lead to difficulty with concentration," says Chris D. Meletis, ND, chief medical officer at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine.
   
   Including Vitamins in your daily diet should help in improving concentration. Iron deficiency can also lead to poor concentration and irritability. High haem iron foods like meat, fish and chicken should be helpful in enhancing concentration.
   
   Also take food and juices rich in Vitamin C. Try drinking a glassful of fresh fruit juice or drink black tea with lemon.
   
10. 
    Try to find comfortable relaxed noise-free atmosphere without distractions:
    
    

Try avoiding visual distractions by pulling curtains on windows if you are sitting near one.