Concentration is essential for reading, working, or driving. It allows memorizing more quickly while avoiding a too significant loss of energy.

Some people worry about not being able to concentrate. Either it is a recurring condition, or it is a temporary problem linked to intense fatigue.

Improving concentration is also a way to be more Zen overall and to acquire good self-control.

What does concentration consist of?

Concentration and attention go hand in hand.

Concentration is synonymous with attention. Listening, observing, and recording mentally are the main ingredients of concentration.

On the other hand, if you allow yourself to be easily distracted – by your external environment or by distracting thoughts, you lack concentration.

Concentration means being 100% focused on what you are doing—being at one with the task at hand.

Why do we sometimes lack concentration?

In addition to the distraction mentioned above, lack of concentration may be temporary, linked to a poor physiological state. Certain disorders can lead to a lack of concentration:

– lack of sleep;

– an unbalanced diet;

– a too sedentary life and a lack of oxygen;

– a disruptive environment: too much noise, interruptions…

How can you improve your concentration?

There are a few basic rules that can help improve concentration:

– Adopt a better lifestyle by practicing regular physical activity and getting enough sleep.

– Help yourself with a varied and balanced diet containing enough food that is good for the circulatory system (garlic and onion) and for the proper functioning of our nervous system (cereals, green vegetables, legumes, dairy products, etc., all of which contain B vitamins).

– If necessary, add one or two dietary supplements, for example:

◦ Ginkgo biloba is good for the micro-circulation at the cerebral level, so it is also interesting to promote concentration,

◦ Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri or water hyssop) s a powerful nootropic agent capable of stimulating learning ability, concentration, and memory.

– Tidy up the workspace. The more your gaze can be caught and distracted by other objects, the more distracted it will be from the task at hand. Keep your work area clean and keep only the object of your concentration in front of you.

– Avoid time-consuming tasks: these time-eaters can interrupt us at any time and easily distract us—for example, an idle colleague who wants to talk. Clearly state your expectations and your need to isolate yourself for such urgent work.

– Learn meditation and Zen. These Eastern philosophies teach us not only to empty our minds and eliminate disturbing thoughts but to live in the moment, with all our senses alert. Living in the moment and being 100% aware of what we are doing now is also a useful exercise to improve concentration.

– Concentrate anywhere. If you manage to practice the first 6 rules, you should quickly get to the last one. When you know how to concentrate, it becomes possible to read in a crowded subway and stay focused on your reading. We manage to isolate ourselves in a kind of bubble that allows us to concentrate very well.

Finally, coaching can be useful to accompany you to these methods. Coaching is a form of accompaniment to reach one or more objectives. Depending on these objectives’ nature, a distinction is made between professional coaching, sports coaching, and personal coaching. What is coaching? You will be able to read more about it in our next edition.

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