In addition to mindfulness and meditation exercises, there are other techniques involving breaks and work environment that you can use to increase your ability to focus for long periods of time. Since no one can stay completely focused for hours on end, it is important to take breaks when studying. The “Pomodoro Technique” involves working for 25 minutes at a time followed by a 5 minute break (Buggy, 2018). It has been known to decrease disruptions in focus since the intervals are already short to begin with. Similarly, it is important to make sure that your breaks are fuelling you and not draining you of energy. As much as we may want to go on our phones to scroll through TikTok, or find another task to complete during the break, this may end up hindering our productivity when we return to our work. Also, since we may be tempted to check notifications that come up on our phones, turning on “Do Not Disturb” can be extremely helpful (Buggy, 2018). This, and not keeping your phone next to you while studying can greatly decrease the likelihood that you will check it if you get bored working. Similarly, making sure you get rid of distractions in your work environment–such as clutter and music–can increase your ability to concentrate. Finally, when you feel a rush of anxiety or the urge to switch to another task, it can be helpful to return to your breathing to center you.
Sources:
Buggy, P. (2018, June 21). How to get focused and stay focused at work. Mindful Ambition. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://mindfulambition.net/focus/
Written By: Mariam Trichas
Edited By: Dhwani Bharvad
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