Attention span problems.....

[Su Lin]

I'm really having problems with my concentration at the moment, in class and at work. My job is quite academic and I need to do quite a lot of written work, but I'm really struggling to sit down and concentrate.I'm also finding in class that I get distracted really easily and have problems remembering things.
I have a pretty healthy diet, and drink no more than two coffees a day and quite a bit of green tea/water.
Just wondering if anyone had any tips as its really starting to bother me!
Tried working away from my pc,but still had problems!

[Pork Chop]

Music helps me, or doing 2 things at once... if i surf a web page i can switch back and forth between that and whatever else i'm working on...

[Su Lin]

Hmmm, music definitely helps. I get really distracted with the web though, perhaps thats my problem!

[Pork Chop]

naughty naughty

[Su Lin]

I know!I seem to work in short ,concentrated bursts! Always did, even doing my masters I would do an hour of working and concentrating in "the zone" and then would find it hard getting back into it.
Is it Ginko that's meant to be good for helping the brain? I hear Omega 3/fish oil is supposed to be good.Perhaps I'll try that.

[Pork Chop]

yah gingko biloba's supposed to help.
don't really remember if it helped me much
Spkie from Biotest (www.t-nation.com) really helps me in a pinch- much better than caffeine.

so what're you daydreaming about?

[Su Lin]

I'm not even daydreaming! Cant hold my attention for that long!

[Pork Chop]

Wow, a girl with issues... i should be falling in love or something...

[Shaolin]

Meditate. Start simple, sit comfortably in a relaxed enviornment. Slow, deep, long breaths. Count the breaths from 1-10, when you get to 10 start over. Do this for five minutes every day for one month. You'll notice you an increase in you focus.

[Su Lin]

I think we need more women on this forum or something!!!:p

Thanks Shaolin for the advice. I have been thinking about meditiation, we have done bits at the end of class, which has been really good. I'm also planning on doing more Qigong ,doing some each day, as I'm sure that will help me balance my mind a bit more and generally focus etc.
Going to get some Omega oils today too to see if they do anything.

[Mr Punch]

Sorry, what were you saying?

[Shaolin]

You're welcome Su Lin. If you need more help just ask.

[Su Lin]

Sorry, what were you saying?

Ha ha!!!

Just bought some extra strength EPA omega oil tablets. Dont really like fish a huge amount,so need to try these instead!

[The Willow Sword]

It sounds to me like you are having a blood sugar crash and it is affecting your concentration. I get that way sometimes and found that if i have a sportsdrink during training i can regain some of that concentration. remember that caffeine will lower your blood sugar levels, so will excersise. the ginko biloba may help in increasing circulation to the brain but what is missing is the glucose.

of course it could be some pumpernickle deficiancy;) , that or you are going through early menopause:eek:

Be Well,,,TWS

[Chief Fox]

I know exactly what you guys are talking about I have trouble with my attention span too....


Hmmmm, it's raining today......


What was I doing.......


Ummmm,.....

Uhhhhhhh,.......


.......

[Golden Arms]

Zen style meditation, like the previous poster was saying, is probably by far your best fix for that. Just do it for 5-`10 minutes every day for a while, you should start noticing a difference pretty quickly.

[Su Lin]

Thanks dor the advice.Think I need some calmness in my life. I tend to flit about between things, have always been like that .

[viper]

meditate def and disipline and focus.

[mambi]

partly cultural factors/ overload an work. Anyway I do remember the blood glucose factor when I was taking tests after long days of work ?study. Just went to Praying Mantis after 4 years of kempo and I find Kung Fu much more intricae and difficult to learn forms specialy after long days work.Worry that Imight have to give it up.! real drag !!

[franco1688]

I was experiencing stress and anxiety problems and one of my professor's recommended counseling. It's free at the university I attend so I figured I'd try it out. In some of my sessions he hooked me up to a biofeedback machine to show me how I could control my heart rate through breathing. The type of breathing that they reccomend, in order to center yourself is very similar to a yogic breathing method I've used before. Let me tell you it defintely works. You can do it in any position (Iusually do it while sitting) and all you do is breath in for four slow counts, hold it for four counts, breath out for four, wait four counts, and repeat. Like I said it relly helped me out a lot and seeing the effects on the biofeedback machine made me a believer in breathing and meditation.

[mickey]

Hi Su Lin,

I have been thinking about your post since yesterday and I do agree about the meditation advice given to you. There is, however, something that I noticed and that is your overuse of stimulants-- in particular, caffeine. You need to cut down on the stuff. This may be the culprit giving you the difficulties that you describe.

If you are taking in high amounts of unhealthy sweets such as refined sugar and corn syrup, you need to eliminate them. They have an effect on your hormone levels which, in turn, have a negative effect on your arousal levels when it comes to learning something. A high arousal level is desireable for increased attention span, comprehension and retention. Refined sugars and corn syup defeat this.

In addtition to meditation, you may want to complement it with a light workout early in the mornings.


mickey