Concentration upgrade: 2 techniques that work miracles!

In this week's post, I am going to share with you 2 very simple, yet very powerful tecniques to improve your concentration levels. It's what I do when I need my attention to be undivided and it works every single time. 

Photo by Katerina May on Unsplash

Of course, there are numerous exercises you can do to increase your focus levels and you can find most of them online. However, when I tried to practise them, they were quite complicated and took a long time. What I wanted was to get an extra concentration boost for 5-10 minutes before beginning my study session. The techniques are simple and everyone can do them. If you find yourself struggling and feel constantly distracted, I guarantee you it will get better through practice and consistency.

Mindful breathing. Mindful breathing is when a person pays attention to the natural rhythm of breathing. In mindful breathing, you have to notice your breathing every time you inhale and exhale. It's when you are most conscious of every breath you take. It's the sensation your breathing leaves on your body. In order to exercise mindful breathing, you need to take deep breaths. You can do one of the following:

• Count the number of your breaths until number 10. Each inhale counts for 1 and the same applies for each exhale. Such a simple exercise will improve your cognitive function and especially your memory. Your emotions will also be regulated.
• Focus on the sensation. Every time you inhale and exhale, notice where in your body you feel the breathing. Also pay close attention to any subtle change you feel and where you feel it. This way, your stress levels decrease and you improve your attention span.

Visualization. Visualization is another way to boost your concentration levels. It's the state of deep focus and trying to isolate your attention on an item/ thought you have sensed before. Two simple ways to do that are:

• Object visualization. Put a simple in front of you and notice every detail about it, studying it for about two minutes.  Send any other interfering thoughts away. Close your eyes and try to recall the object in as much detail as possible. Try to keep a clear image of it in your mind for about a minute. Your memory retention will be optimal after this exercise.
• Name visualization.  Picture writing your own name in your mind. Close your eyes and imagine yourself writing your name on a piece of paper. At first, try to focus on each letter separately. It's easier that way. After a while, try to see your entire name written in your mind. This will help you memorise easier and store information for longer.

These are the two simple exercises I use to keep my concentration in top shape. Do you have any concentration techniques yourselves? Comment down below and let me know. Like and share this article with your friends.