Let’s put this straight… different people concentrate in different ways. I have tried various ways to better concentrate and after a lot of trial and error I found this method works best for me. As I said it does not mean that it will work for you, but I think it is worth sharing the method anyways. However I am very positive that since it worked for me, with some effort, it will work for you too.

First of all concentration requires an effort. You have to have a mindset to concentrate. When I am busy and I need to concentrate on some work I do the following:

I close the door. I want complete silence. I don’t want to hear what others are doing in the house. The faintest noise might make me lose my concentration or make me nervous or curious about what is going on. By closing myself in a room, I eliminate such situations.

I switch OFF music. As I said complete silence works best for me. Some people prefer soft music, classical music or ambient music. I found out that having complete silence helps me immerse myself in the work I have to do.

Switch off all communication devices and methods. I switch off my instant messaging and if I don’t need internet I switch off my laptop. That way I also eliminate the sound whirring laptop fans :P. I switch off my cell phone and unplug my phone. Well, I only unplug the phone when I seriously want to concentrate.

Clear the desk. I clear the desk from all kinds of paper and other stationary. Sometimes I find myself playing with a rubber or a pen. To eliminate such situations I remove everything and only leave the stuff I absolutely need to carry out my work.

Proper lighting. I found that proper lighting is a fundamental ambient property that helps you to concentrate. I tend to like warm tropical light (slightly yellowish) since it feels warmer and less artificial than white light.

Once I enter my concentration zone I try to finish off all the tasks that I planned before I take a break. This is because to get into the concentration zone again it takes time and it does not always work. Once I finish of the task I take a long break in order to recover after an intensive session of concentration. Before I take a break though, I look at the work I managed to finish with admiration and look forward for another session of concentration
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