6 Things You Need To Concentrate And Succeed

6 Things You Need To Concentrate And Succeed
Concentration delivers the most consistent results in the
most productive way possible, time after time. Ironically
the more you think about concentrating the less you are
focused on the task at hand. That's why most people teach
the skill of concentration through indirect methods, such
as eliminating distractions.

Concentration is simply directing your energy toward a
particular activity.

Edwin Moses, Olympic champion and physicist, said, "My
concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is
why some athletes are better than others. You develop that
concentration in training??"

Concentration is a learned skill. And, as with any skill,
repeated practice will increase you goal achievement. A
thoughtful analysis of what distracts your concentration
will usually point you in the direction you must take to
improve.

This is a summary of typical distractions that impede your
concentration and therefore your productivity. Evaluate
your own situation and determine how you change the
environment to improve these circumstances.

° Whether it's a home office, your kitchen table or your
local library, it's important to find a place where you can
spread out and have all of the materials you will need
close at hand. Any time you have to get up is another
disruption. You should have good lighting and ventilation,
a comfortable chair (but not too comfortable!) and a desk
large enough to spread out your materials.

° While some people cannot think in peace and quiet, it is
much more difficult to concentrate if our surroundings are
intrusive. You can distinguish between background music,
which our minds interpret as "white noise" and
interruptions by telephones, IM, email and questions.
Music may not be a distraction to you but people are
disruptive to the effort at concentration.

° Set a realistic goal for each session and divide your
work into small, short-term tasks. Determine these before
you begin to work. Don't be too vague such as, "I am going
to spend all day Saturday working." You won't recognize
the amount of work you accomplish and will be discouraged.
Do more than your goal if you have the time, but set a
reasonable goal even if it seems too easy.

° Set a time limit for focused concentration. At the
beginning 15 minutes may be reasonable. Work up to at
least 30 minutes before you take a 5-10 minute break for
stretching and walking. You want to recharge your brain
and increase the blood flow throughout your body. This
also increases concentration.

° Decide the order you're going to approach your tasks.
Then stick to it.

° This is the best part. Plan a reward for completing
your goals for each session. But remember, if you don't
meet your goal ? no reward!

The ability to concentrate and focus on the task at hand is
a learned skill - which means there's hope for everyone!
We all have the ability to concentrate. But at times our
thoughts are scattered, and our minds race. We need to
learn and practice concentration skills and strategies to
improve our productivity.

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Rasheed Ali was once a homeless & penniless teenager on the
streets of New York is now helping to change the lives of
thousands people from all over the world through his
innovative and thought-provoking newsletters and websites.
He publishes the Power of Concentration Newsletter and
provides a complimentary copy of the timeless classic by
Theron Dumont at http://www.FreePowerOfConcentration.com