Concentration is the ability to attend to a
task on hand with full attention/focus over a length of period resulting
in active practice while learning the task. Concentration is very
necessary for intellectual tasks, more than routine tasks. Most of the
students complain of poor concentration skills. The difficulties may be
due to preoccupation with problems in studies, distraction due to radio
or others. Certain techniques to improve concentration will help
students to attend, concentrate and register the information at hand.
Techniques to Improve Concentration
- Study in a place with adequate light, ventilation, and low noise level to prevent distraction.
- Study both in the morning and night.
- Study at regular hours everyday.
- Space out study time. Do not sit and study continuously for a long time. It reduces efficiency and capacity to retain material read.
- Before starting to read, write down on a sheet of paper the time you expect to finish.
- Do not just say, "Today I am going to read English". Set a definite plan, "Today I must finish two chapters and answer 10 questions in Organic Chemistry". Setting clear goals helps one to complete the task.
- Focus on one activity at a time - reading only; not reading while seeing TV.
- Meditation, Yoga, simple breathing exercises improve concentration.
- Avoid studying similar materials one after the other; one interferes with or inhibits the other.
- Avoid studying when attention is persistently wandering.
- Avoid studying when upset.
- Avoid studying when you are sleepy, tired or bored.
- Avoid using drugs, alcohol, excess of coffee or tea to improve concentration. It will decrease ability to think.
- Stop daydreaming. The best way is to get back on track, maybe by standing up and walk around.
- Lastly enjoy schoolwork, i.e. read for the fun of it
