How to Improve Concentration

The more we worry and stress, the poorer our concentration, shot-term memory and focus. Why does this happen? Anger, fear, worry, anxiety, depression and stress cause the brain to downshift into the more primitive survival centre of the brain. The more sophisticated parts of the brain - related to concentration, learning and using your intellectual abilities - are not essential for survival. Speech and logical reasoning abilities are mainly seated in the left cortex and the more unsure, flustered and irritated we are, the less we are able to use our brains as we would like to do.

It follows that if you want to improve your concentration you have to acquire the right state of mind. If e.g. you feel safe and supported, your brain is far less likely to downshift into the survival mode.

1. A quick and effective way to feel safe and supported is to imagine yourself in a protective bubble. Put a soft colour that you love inside your bubble, or simply pretend that you have such a bubble protecting you against everyone and everything that threatens you. Your brain does not know whether you really have such a bubble shielding you, or whether this is a figment of your imagination. As you know, when you are dreaming at night your dream is your reality.

Practice flicking people's upsetting actions, attitudes, emotions, and indications of criticism or rejection out of your bubble. You can either literally flick these out upsets, bad memories and fears or you can simply flick them out in your imagination. Alternatively you can bounce irritations off the outside of the bubble or simply breathe out anything that comes at you that you know is not good for you. Now you brain will work better and your concentration will improve. All you need is imagination. Even Einstein said the imagination is more powerful than knowledge.

2. Perhaps you lack self-motivation and would like to switch on the inspiration button. Let's look at easy, playful ways of switching on self-motivation. No hard work or force is required, and don't exert pressure on yourself. It creates stress, which causes the brain to downshift to the primitive centre and cut down on your concentration and the ability to learn and reason logically.

Sit comfortably and relax your ears, which will relax your shoulders and jaw muscles. Close your eyes and feel or imagine yourself in your bubble. Let your mind wander to a time and place where you managed to do something well. Relive this experience - see it, hear the sounds, get the smells. Put in colour and movement and make you picture 10 times happier and more dramatic. Feel the good feeling of achievement. Make a fist with your one hand and pump your good feeling into the fist on each outbreath. Make your fist tighter. Relax your body, open your eyes and roll your shoulders. To switch on your self-motivation in future, you only need to make a fist and take a deep breath. The same good feeling will come back to you.

3. Each time you manage to do anything better - even if it is only 2 % better, anchor this improvement by touching your breastbone where it has a slight bulge. Put all your successes or improvements into this spot. Some days you will forget to do this, but then you may simply think about a few things that you did "right" or better over the past few days and give yourself positive feedback by touching your breastbone in the same spot. Remembering what you did right or the mere fact that you are tapping your breastbone to enhance your self-esteem may even elicit a smile. You may even giggle at yourself. If you smile endorphins - the feel-good enzymes - are secreted in the brain, which will increase your ability to learn or perform better. In future when you want to feel more motivated or inspired, tap this spot on your chest, and the good feelings that you banked in your treasure chest will be activated.

4. When you are in a really good mood and you feel "in flow" - whether you are working or socializing, touch your breastbone. In future you simply touch this spot to be in flow again. Your treasure chest is accumulating positive energy from the past as well as the present, therefore your credits are accumulating.

5. Any of these easy techniques can be topped up by the Mona Lisa smile. You simply allow a tiny smile to creep into your face, especially the area around your eyes. Breathe into your tummy and relax your shoulders. By changing your body posture you can change your state of mind.

There you have learnt 5 easy techniques to create the right state of mind so that you can concentrate and focus. Be surprised at your success, tap yourself on the chest and smile the subtle Mona-Lisa smile.

By Shani Grove.

About this Author

To find out more....
http://www.shanifocus.co.za/index.html
shani@intekom.co.za or call 0832830087 South-Africa

Psychologist - 35 years experience - working for various organizations, as consultant and also in private practice Running study skills, life skills and stress management workshops Face-to-face and group counseling Evaluation of management potential Motivational speaker Author of 10 self-help books, consultant for magazines Careers counseling

Learn to use your true brain potential and surprise yourself!

Well known psychologist and South African author of self-help books Shani Grove has published a book on quick-fix techniques for concentration and focus. Readers know her as an author who offers practical, imaginative recipes to deal with a variety of life problems. Her books are based on scientific principles but are written in simple language which anyone can understand. Foxy Focus offers crafty techniques to achieve better results in your studies and work.
http://www.shanifocus.co.za/index.html

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