10 Tips for Razor Sharp Concentration

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Writing to-do lists and keeping a schedule may keep you organized, but does it really help
you get more done? I believe that organization is important, but what you really need is
focus. Being able to sit down and concentrate intensely on your work for a few hours. Even
a half hour of focused effort can get more done than an entire day of distraction and
multitasking.
Here’s some tips to get into a state of deep concentration where work flows easily:
1) Cut Off the Noise
It may be obvious that distractions aren’t helping your focus, but do you actually cut them
out? I’ll admit, it can be tempting to put the e-mail alerts on, turn on the IM and answer
every request sent your way. But in the end it is only preventing you from concentrating.
Getting into a state of concentration can take at least fifteen minutes. If you are getting
distracted every five, you can’t possibly focus entirely on your work. Answer your e-mails at
scheduled times. Request that people don’t interrupt you when working on a big project. If
you are required to answer phones and drop-in’s immediately, schedule work when the
office is less busy.
2) Structure Your Environment
The place you work can have an impact on your ability to focus. Try to locate yourself so
you are facing potential distractions such as doors, phones or windows. This way you can
take a glance to assess sounds that would otherwise break your focus.
3) Clarify Objectives
Know what your goal is clearly before you start. If you aren’t sure what the end result is,
the confusion will make it impossible to focus. Before I write any articles, I define the main
focus of the article and get a brief mental picture of the structure. Unclear objectives often
result in having to redo sections of work.
4) Divide Blobs
Big blobs of tasks that have no clear start or end point destroy focus. If you have a large
project that needs work, clearly identify a path that you will use to get started working on
it. If the sequence of actions isn’t obvious, it will be difficult to concentrate. Taking a few
minutes to plan not only your end result, but the order you will complete any steps, can
save hours in wasted thinking.
5) Know the Rules
Get clear on what the guidelines are for the task ahead. What level of quality do you need?
What standards do you need to follow? What constraints are there? If you are writing a
program, get clear on how much commenting you need, what functions you want to use and
the flexibility required. If you are writing an article, decide on the length and style.
If the rules aren’t clear from the outset, you will slip out of concentration as you ponder
them later.
6) Set a Deadline
Deadlines have both advantages and disadvantages when trying to force concentration. A
deadline can make it easier to forget the non-essential and speed up your working time. If
you give yourself only an hour to design a logo, you will keep it simple and avoid fiddling
with extravagant designs.
Time limits have disadvantages when they cause you to worry about the time you have left
instead of the task itself. I recommend using a deadline when:
1. Time is limited. If you only have a day to complete work that could easily take
weeks, chunking it into specific deadlines will strip away everything that isn’t
crucial.
2. It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. If your task could easily expand to have
new features or ideas, use a deadline to keep it under control.
3. To avoid procrastination. A tight deadline can save you if you are worried about
procrastinating.
7) Break Down Roadblocks
Roadblocks occur whenever you hit a tricky problem in your work. This can happen when
you run out of ideas or your focus wavers. Break down roadblocks by brainstorming or
planning on a piece of paper. Writing out your thought processes can keep you focused
even if you might become frustrated.
8 ) Isolate Yourself
Become a hermit and stay away from other people if you want to get work done. Unless
your work is based on other people they will only break your focus. Create a private space
and refuse to talk to anyone until your work is finished. Put a sign on your door to steer
away drop-ins and don’t answer your phone.
9) Healthy Body, Sharper Mind
What you put into your body affects the way you concentrate. Nobody would expect peak
performance if they showed up drunk to work. But if you allow yourself to get chronic sleep
deprivation, overuse stimulants like caffeine or eat dense, fatty foods your concentration
will suffer. Try to cut out one of your unhealthy habits for just thirty days to see if there is a
difference in your energy levels. I’ve found even small steps can create dramatic changes in
my ability to focus.
10) Be Patient
Before I write an article, I often sit at my desk for a fifteen or twenty minutes before I put
finger on the keyboard. During this time I feel a strong urge to leave or do something else.
But I know that if I am patient, I’ll stumble upon an idea to write about and enter a state of
flow. Without a little patience, you can’t take advantage of flow when it rushed through you.
If you need strong concentration I recommend periods of 90-120 minutes. Any less than
that and you will waste too much time getting started before the flow can continue. More
than this is possible to sustain focus, but you will probably benefit from a quick break.