Can’t seem to concentrate? Read further…
In this short article I want to introduce you to a simple powerful strategy I use to consistently get in a state of deep concentration while studying. I originally learned this from Eben Pagan and it works wonders for me. So here it is – how to get more done in less time:
We all experienced it before. On some days you sit down with the intention to study, yet you just can’t seem to focus. Then on other days studying several hours in a row is no problem at all.
If you ever found your concentration for studying to be completely unpredictable and it annoyed the hell out of you, try the following trick:
Find a quiet room with no people inside. Take your phone, put it on flight mode and set its timer on 90 minutes. Now the rules for the next 90 minutes are as follows:
1) Don’t look at your phone to check the time, don’t text anybody, in fact just don’t touch your phone at all
2) Don’t get up to go to the toilet/make a coffee/smoke a cigarette/get some water
3) Simply sit at the table and work
The first time you try this the urge for checking your whatsapp will probably creep in after 5 minutes. Resist it, don’t touch the phone and keep working. What you will find is that after about 20 minutes you start getting immersed in your task and any distracting thoughts start fading away.
From then on time will fly by. When the timer rings, stop and take a break for twenty minutes. Wash rinse repeat the process until you have completed your task.
This process allows you to systematically and consistently create deep concentration, at times when you need to get stuff done. The quality of your work sessions will go through the roof and good study days become the norm.
While eliminating distractions to study might sound like common sense, every time I go to the library I see ninety percent of the people there on whatsapp, chatting to their neighbor or going for a coffee. As a result your focus breaks every 10 minutes and you prevent yourself from ever getting into study mode.
On the flip side concentrating for an extended period of time gets easy if you get rid of any kind of stimulus. Just drink, pee, text and smoke before your study session. Then turn the phone on flight mode, set the timer and go. It is not that hard. Really.
See you next time
Felix
P.S.: Let me know what your strategies are for getting into work/study mode in the comment section below!
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