5 Ways to Build Focus and Concentration - College Info Geek

Needless to say that I have not been posting in a while. Albeit, I do have my reasons. I will not go too far into detail. Suffice it to say I had some visitors over for Christmas. Not to mention I had a lot going on doing the paperwork so as to reapply to college. Thus far, everything has been marching well. The only thing I resent though is having had some time taken away from me by my indecisiveness. The topic for today is going to be regarding how to focus on the task at hand. Whether it is in college, work or whatnot. In the following post I will express my opinion on the matter and share some of the information I found on the web.

 

This is something I have never really had trouble with. Be that as it may, once I started working full-time, things changed somehow. My ability to concentrate still remained intact. Notwithstanding, through time it was harder and harder for me to focus on one task at a time. This is where Thomas Frank comes in. He is an extraordinarily talented You-Tuber who gives advice on time management and study techniques during your college years. Though, these recommendations could also be applied to other areas as well. Such as at the work-place, any other studying setting, or life in general.Back to the topic, there is something called "cognitive switching penalty". You see, each time you switch from one subject to another, you incur this sort of cognitive penalty. Your brain spends time thrashing, loading and reloading texts.

 

In order to complement the aforesaid definition, am I going to rephrase the pieces of advice Thomas gives on his video. First of all, you have to make sure that you pre-commit yourself with the task. What I mean by this is that you have to build some sort of device that binds you to finish the assignment before you actually start. For instance, you could make use of some Apps, such as "Bee-minder", or "Foca-filter". A more simplistic method though, would be to write down on a piece of paper "I have to get "X" done by 30 minutes", and know that there is a consequence if you do not finish. Second, having a distraction sheet next to you while you are working proves quite handy. By writing down all the things that distract you, you are more aware of them. Thus, it is easier to avoid them.Besides that, there is an app called "Forest". What this app does is giving you instant gratification so to speak. Basically, it lets you plant a seed, and if you do not touch your phone for 30 minutes, it grows into a tree. Moreover, meditation assists in improving your concentration considerably. To illustrate my point I will say as follows. I tend to go jogging on a daily basis. In between that process, I usually either meditate/pray for about five minutes as a sort of resting technique. I do so whenever I find the time. You are not obligated to doing the exercise routine as well. Even so, it could easily double your concentration ability.

 

Lastly, it is imperative that you eliminate any potential distractions For instance, by blocking distracting websites, and finding a peaceful place where to study. You could also apply the "Burnt ships technique". This technique helps you eliminate your ability to distract yourself. You can do this by using any of the apps listed above; or you could use the aid of a pen and a notepad to keep track of your distractions. Having said that, I encourage you to watch the video I am going to share next. On this video Thomas Frank himself  will elucidate on the matter in a more detailed way. Since he produced the content in the first place.

How To Run: DOs & DON'Ts

Once again has in been a while since I last posted. In fact I was planning to write an entry last Sunday. Nonetheless, a family meal (Which completely flummoxed me regarding whether to attend or not) arose with very little anticipation . Thus, my decision to postpone this post until further notice. Luckily, though this small inconvenience gave me some time to switch the topic to one slightly more manageable. You see, initially I had been planning to talk about the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit.  A major event that took place in Peru about a month ago. Still and all, I have arrived at the conclusion that the aforesaid is indeed too late now to talk about. Instead, I decided to write about one of my favorite pastimes: "Jogging"

 

Mark Twain once said "Eat a life frog the first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day". In other words, the first thing you do when you get up should be the most taxing task of the day. It is said that human resolve or determination is at its peak right after we wake up. Be that as it may, as the day progresses, it gradually lowers. When you start your day with exercise, you capacity to handle stress triples. Our brain perceives exercise as a period of stress. As a result, heart rate increases and your brain enters in what is called  "The fight or flight response". In order to ward off this apparent threat, our brain produces two chemicals: "BDMF" and "Endorphins". Both of which I am going to elucidate in the following paragraph.

 

BDMF (Brain-Derived-Neurotrophic-Factor) set out to protect and repair your memory neurons, and act as a reset button. Hence, clearing your mind and helping you make positive decisions.

On the other hand, endorphins are released to diminish the discomfort of exercise. Not to mention that they also curb your sensation of pain, and even triggers feelings of pleasure. What is more, you acquire the effects of these chemicals naturally. As opposed to obtaining them through outside sources. Moreover, these favorable mental effects have been proven to last throughout the whole day.Needless to say that beginning the day with a fruitful workout leads to the following: Better dietary choices, a faster metabolism, more energy, and a sense of achievement.  

 

In review, I would say that it indeed is a wise decision to perform a morning work-out as soon as you start your day. Not only has exercise been proven time and time again to bring countless benefits to your health (Such as reducing the number of times you get sick by strengthening your immune system), but it also has been stated that it keeps you energized and in a good mood throughout the day. Lastly, I just wanted to end by saying that I will attach a video on this issue (As I always do). 

It talks about what do and not to do during your daily run. For instance, one of the things I used to do wrong was to "overstride". Meaning to take very long steps when you run.