In our fast-paced world full of distractions, it is often difficult to concentrate on the essentials. Are you a pupil or student looking for ways to improve your concentration for exams, homework and deadlines? In our article, you will find out why distractions are so powerful, which factors weaken your concentration and how you can specifically increase your concentration.
How to concentrate better
with these tips it works
Why are we so easily distracted?
Distraction is a natural part of our psychology, often triggered by external stimuli such as messages, emails or social media.
Many of us have forgotten how to do nothing. You probably know the feeling: You’re standing at the bus stop and instead of relaxing a little and letting your mind wander, you pull out the Smartphone and check Whatsapp, Snapchat, TikTok and co. The constant availability of digital media makes it extremely difficult to focus on long-term goals and tasks. Not just when you’re standing at the bus stop, but also when you’re at school, university or at home trying to concentrate.
Watch this
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationWhat causes concentration problems?
Certain factors can also contribute to concentration problems. These are for example:
- Multitasking: If you try to do several tasks at the same time, your performance will not be as good as if you concentrate on one thing at a time.
- Lack of sleep and stress: Too little sleep and high levels of stress can greatly reduce your ability to concentrate.
- Unbalanced diet: If you eat a lot of sugar, caffeine and fast food, this can lead to energy dips that affect your mental performance.
- Lack of interest: If the learning task does not seem interesting or relevant to you, it is difficult to maintain attention. Try to find a personal connection to the learning content in order to stay motivated.
How can I improve my concentration?
These tips will help you to focus more and improve your ability to concentrate while studying.
1. Structured daily planning
Set clear study times and stick to a structured daily routine. Short, intensive study sessions with planned breaks (the so-called Pomodoro technique) can significantly increase your concentration.
2. A good learning environment
Ensure a calm, tidy environment that is free from distractions. Keep your desk as clean as possible and make sure you have either a quiet environment or calming, concentration-enhancing music in the background. Fresh air is also extremely important. So make sure you ventilate regularly.
3. Breaks are not a luxury, but a must
Don’t power through until you drop – breaks are really important for your brain! If you are studying for a longer period of time, you definitely need time to take a deep breath in between. This is not just chilling out, but helps you to process the material better and then get back on track. Think of it as a reboot for your brain. So do it like a good workout: take a short break after each intensive training session so that you can store the information well. But it’s best not to use the breaks to distract yourself with your smartphone.
4. Go on a digital diet
Make sure that you limit the use of smartphones and social media during your study time. Sure, it’s not that easy! However, you can remedy this by activating “sleep mode” on your smartphone or using apps that block access to social media, for example. Another simple option is to give up your cell phone completely during intensive study phases – put it in another room or entrust it to good friends, siblings or your parents for a few hours.
5. Pay attention to your physical fitness
Regular exercise is crucial to staying fit, both physically and mentally. Sports that particularly promote concentration are, for example, yoga, but also endurance sports such as running, swimming or cycling. These improve the oxygen supply to the brain, which in turn increases your ability to concentrate.
6. Don’t forget about mental fitness
In addition to regular exercise, a balanced diet is also crucial for your mental fitness. Foods that particularly promote concentration are nuts, especially walnuts and almonds, as well as dark chocolate and berries such as blueberries and strawberries. These foods are rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and flavonoids, which improve brain performance and support your memory.
6. stay hydrated and focused
Did you know that your brain needs a lot of water to function properly? So, make it a habit to drink enough water every day – it should be around 1.5 to 2 liters. Try to leave the sweet drinks at home, especially during learning-intensive phases. They only cause your blood sugar to shoot up and then plummet again, which can make you feel really weak. Try water, green tea or diluted juices instead.
7. Try toothpicks with flavor
Chewing on flavored toothpicks can also be a helpful method to increase concentration. Chewing helps to calm the mind and sharpen focus, while the flavor (e.g. mint or lime) invigorates the senses and thus increases alertness. Try it out with the Zunder toothpicks, which many of our customers use specifically to help them focus and concentrate better.
Newsletter
10% discount with the Zunder newsletter
Toothpick news, sales & Zunder news straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to the Zunder newsletter and save 10% on your first order.