How To Effectively Improve Your Concentration Levels And Mental Performance

If you have ever attempted a challenging task and experienced many difficulties getting it done, you must have wished for a superhuman concentration ability. The good news is that you can improve your level of concentration quite quickly. Whether you are preparing for an important interview, a competency exam, or a project, concentration span is essential for all of these.

People often confuse concentration span with attention span. However, both are quite different. Attention span is about the time duration during which you can effectively concentrate on a task. In contrast, concentration is about the overall mental effort to invest in the task at hand directly.

What Affects Your Concentration?

The concentration span and quality may vary significantly from one situation to another for several reasons. It is quite tricky for many people to tune out the distractions around us, and age, among other factors, like sleep deprivation, also negatively affects the ability to concentrate.

Many people start experiencing forgetfulness as they grow older and have a hard time maintaining concentration. All of these symptoms may be a predecessor to memory loss. Specific injuries to the head or brain, like a concussion, may also undermine the concentration ability. It is often highly frustrating if you are trying to concentrate on something, but it doesn’t seem to work. People experiencing a lag in concentration can get irritated or stressed quickly because of how hard it is to focus on a task. But, as we mentioned earlier, there are ways to improve your ability to concentrate.

How to Train for Better Concentration Span?

Well, it is a fun training experience, and your brain will love it. To improve your ability to concentrate, play different games requiring higher cognitive involvement, like crossword puzzles, chess, memory games, Sudoku, jigsaw, or scramble. Games that promote cognitive functions and put your brain to work will also help improve short-term memory and working memory. Additionally, you will observe significant improvement in problem-solving and analytical skills.

Have You Considered a Supplement?

Various supplements help improve cognitive functions and enhance concentration levels. There are quite a few options available, and some people opt for nootropic supplements, but you must ensure you get the best nootropic stack if you want to improve the concentration span. Moreover, add certain foods rich in Vitamin K, folate, choline, flavonoids, and omega-three fatty acids, to your diet.

Play a Video Game to Concentrate Better

Yes, you read it correctly. Video games can also help you improve your concentration span substantially. Often video games are designed to force a person to practice ignoring surrounding distractions and get involved in the game. In simple words, if you are playing a video game, you will be focused solely on the task and will receive reinforcements for that focus. However, using video games as a concentration booster is controversial because of the addictive risk video games pose.

Don’t Compromise the Quality of Sleep

Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on your concentration ability and cognitive functions. If you have suffered sleep deprivation occasionally, it may not pose many problems. However, consistently skipping sleep is not a good strategy if you are trying to improve performance and mood. If you are sleep-deprived, your ability to concentrate slows down, and so do your reflexes. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you get proper sleep regularly.

Exercise to Improve Concentration

Exercise or workouts are not only beneficial for your overall health, but it also improves your ability to concentrate. You may start with general aerobic exercises and work your way to intensive ones gradually. However, if you don’t feel up to doing aerobics or intensive training, just indulge in whatever feels right to you. It will depend on your weight and fitness goals, but the most important thing is to stay active.

Explore and Connect With Nature

Getting out and spending time in nature can give a boost to your concentration levels. It can be as simple as going out for a walk in the nearby park or spending some time in your backyard or garden. In addition to an improved concentration span, spending time around nature has many other health benefits. So, try to carve out a few minutes in your daily schedule for time in nature.

Now that you know a few ways to improve your concentration ability, get started without wasting any more time. You have to explore what works best for you because some methods will be more intuitive for you than others. Always consult with your health care provider to discuss anything you need to avoid depending on your health profile.