New answers tagged focus
1
Depending on what you're brainstorming about, you might do it differently, but here's some stuff that should work regardless
Brainstorming Guidelines:
Use a pen, markers, whiteboards, sticky notes etc. Digital mediums create constraints, and you only want productive constraints when brainstorming.
There are no bad ideas, don't judge anybody, write them ...
0
You might want to look at this page.
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.warriordudimanche.net%2Farticle129%2Fmeditation-et-apaisement-et-nichons&act=url
Sadly, it's in French so I put it in Google translation. It seems still pretty understandable.
...
0
I find I continually think of a couple of things at the same time so part of my meditation process is to have planned thoughts. Like @hexodus, I tie something physical to my thoughts -
usually I let one part of my mind count my breaths while another counts my heartbeats. When beginning a meditation this helps persuade stray thoughts to stay only briefly. ...
3
This is why brainstorming or 'blue sky thinking' can be very useful when trying to break out of a rut.
Instead of analysing a possible solution, these techniques encourage you to write down many ideas - without being judgemental, so no calling out a specific idea as silly or unworkable - just write them all down and then go back and review each one.
This ...
1
I work in an open office that is mostly quiet with bursts of people talking. In my experience my Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise Canceling headphones don't really work very well blocking out conversations (particularly one-side phone conversations.)
For these, I've found my Audio-Technica ATH M50 around the ear headphones (with some music) + ear plugs example work ...
1
You really, really want to beemind your studying! Here's a guest post on the Beeminder blog by a student who did so: http://blog.beeminder.com/gandalf
Beeminder is all about setting up very real consequences, as well as visualizing your progress, which serves as the positive reinforcement.
It's super great, says the co-founder of Beeminder. (Sorry for my ...
0
A point of meditation is not so much to be free of thoughts in the sense of being devoid of thoughts but rather in the sense of being independent of thoughts, such that thoughts have no power over you anymore. Having no thoughts at all is obviously not sustainable in every day life, but detachment from thoughts certainly is.
Regard thoughts like passing ...
7
There is no quick solution to this.
Okay, there is. Read the other comments for some good tips. However, the problem is deeper than that, and if you won't fix it, the problem will keep returning to you later.
Pushing yourself, threatening yourself, punishing yourself, etc. those are all short-term solutions which may save the day, but will leave you more ...
1
I've used two models, AKG K28NC and Sony NC11. Turning noise cancellation on does muffle conversations a bit, but it certainly does not knock them out, not even close to how airplane engine is muted down for example.
My current Etymotics with tight-fitting foam tips (they do not have active NC, only passive isolation) do cancel both speech and hum, and ...
0
Lots of good answers here, and I personally use a combination of them.
The most important for me:
1) Momentum is a subconscious motivator
2) Start with tiny improvements
3) Increase time and scope gradually
4) Momentum will take over and you'll get into "flow".
More details:
Lots of advice I've read over the years includes "visualization of happy ...
4
Make your studying a game (gamification).
If you like games have you considered trying to create one?
This also many be an indication that you don't like what you are studying.
Your question is an example of instant gratification versus deferred gratification. For example, you are given 20 bucks. There are two choices: either spend it now (instant) or ...
1
I've used a pair of Bose noise canceling headphones in the office for 8 years. They work best at removing the hum of the air conditioner or a noisy computer fan. The sound of conversations are dulled and with the music playing, most conversations go unnoticed.
0
Some ideas that help me:
Use multiple browsers.
I use Opera for personal stuff, it has all my personal bookmarks for everything I'm into. Then I use Firefox for work. This way I can separate my email (I use gmail in both cases). Not having the browser (Opera in my case) open at all then help me only look at work related stuff in firefox.
Use multiple ...
3
What can I do to make the consequences of my action seem more real? I mean, come on, I wouldn't be homeless if I don't study for my exam tomorrow, right?
Get a part time job.
Move in a separate house and pay its rent from the money earned by your part time job.
Pay for your studies from the money earned by your part time job.
It seems to me that ...
2
Noise cancellation headphones can actually cope very well with this sort of situation, because they completely control the sound in a way a PA system can't.
The microphone allows the headphones to pick up the noise which would enter your ear and play it back out of phase. It does work best with constant sounds, such as the background noise on an aeroplane ...
1
To me, it's just a matter of priority and practice. No, you will not be homeless if you don't study for the exam, but then why are you going to school in the first place?
So, after you've realized that you indeed HAVE to study to pass the exam, graduate, get a decent job etc, it only takes practice. Focus is just a matter of practice. No, you will not be ...
1
it's not about attempting to be free from thought
it's about realizing when the mind starts drifting
most of the time this happens without our realizing that it has started drifting already
the goal is to be able to notice as soon as it starts to drift so that we can can bring the mind back to what we were trying to concentrate on
5
The consequences of your (in)action won't be real until you actually suffer from it.
If you want to go that negative route, visualize that suffering: the embarrassment, the realization that you lost that time and cannot retrieve it, whatever motivates you to do something with a longer-term payoff than the fleeting "thrill" a few hours of video games.
Or, ...
1
I find that breaking my reading down into small goals - say 5 pages at a time helps me focus on getting the reading done when there is noise all around me. Short goals like that allow me to accept that it's going to be almost impossible to focus for a long long time like I'd like to. After 5 pages (or however many) I take a little break - regroup - talk if ...
2
I agree with frank. Just notice that there are some thoughts and then continue with your meditation.
You can also try to concentrate on two things at the same time : your breath and how something feels a like (the fabric of your shirt or jeans, the touch of your finger on an other finger ... ). As we can't handle more then two tasks at a time the thoughts ...
1
I am using the following trick: every time I am not sure where to put something (if this something doesn't have a permanent spot yet) I am asking myself:
where would I look if I was looking for this thing?
The answer usually gives me the best place and one more thing would have it's designated spot.
13
The goal is not to try to be free from thoughts or to resist them. Instead welcome the thought, acknowledge it then say goodbye to it. Dedicating time to try and not think about it will inevitably lead to you thinking about it. So just let it happen and be very passive with it. Thoughts will come and go easily, they only stick around when we focus on them, ...
11
You can't. At best, you can gently refuse to follow each train of thought as it occurs. Watch the boats floating by; just don't climb into any of them.
This becomes easier after a few months.
1
Build it into a habit. Set up a cue for it, e.g. Friday night. Set a reward, e.g. an episode of your favorite show, a favorite game, or a special dessert. Then do the task upon the cue and end it with the reward. In time, you'll automatically do it.
Note that the reward is critical to this, but it doesn't have to be a major one. Febreze is sold almost ...
0
I listen to loads of interesting podcasts when I can't avoid doing slave work. That way my main activity is listening to the podcast, and I'm just doing some unpleasant stuff at the same time.
1
For me listening audiobooks works best.
On normal free time I can't do that, because I'm usually falling asleep and loosing track of plot. On the other hand, I'm also loosing plot when I'm doing creative work. But time when I'm washing dishes, cleaning room, preparing meals etc. is perfect for listening audiobook. If book is interesting, trick works like ...
2
The answer provided by @aszekely is perfect. I will just add some tips I derived form my own experience of fighting (successful) with procrastination - and daily routine in particular.
Try ... buying a plant (flower)!
As far as I can judge from your question, what you want is to try to produce the same psychological effect for completing small tasks as if ...
5
I will block out time on my calendar each day for similar tasks. For example, in my practice I am not the best at returning calls, so I block out time day for making and returning calls. If you accept that everything on your calendar is an promise, either to yourself or someone else (in the case of an appointment), you might find it much easier to know out ...
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