Have you ever complain or feel bad because of poor concentration on the task? Is it because of distractions, or are there any other factors that involve? University of Kent has archived a good article on the topic of concentration. It talks bout what is concentration (or lack of it), factors that may cause it, the link between your physical and concentration, how to train, and how to maintain your concentration. I like the section on maintaining concentration:
Be Active
* Vary your activities to keep your mind from wandering: make notes, highlight, underline, ask yourself questions, prepare questions for discussion, associate new material with old material, visualise a concept, etc.
* Change the subject/topic you are studying every two hours or so to maintain your interest.Take Regular Breaks
It is important to take a break before you feel tired and lose your concentration completely. Regular breaks at least once an hour helps to sustain your concentration. If the work is not going too well and you have difficulties in concentrating, you may need a long break and go back to it later. Alternatively, you can try working for shorter period of time, such as 20 minutes, and have more frequent short breaks.Oxygenate
* When you sit for long periods, gravity draws the blood to the lower part of your body. When you take a break, take a few deep breaths and get more oxygen to your brain: try walking around and doing some light stretching for a few minutes. It will help to release tension in your body, and help your circulation. (Try ‘Focus on Your Breath’ exercise.)
* If you have been working on a computer, relax your eyes by focusing at a distance, and relieve your eyes from the glare of the computer by covering your eyes with the palm of your hands for a moment.
Online teaching on concentration – [University of Kent]
