Concentration exercises typically involve numbers, objects, words, and visualization. By practicing these exercises, a person might improve mental willpower and the ability to focus without distractions. Each exercise should be practiced daily, starting with five minutes on each and gradually working up to 10 or 15 minutes per exercise.
Counting concentration exercises might involve keeping track of steps while walking or counting backward from 100. Once a person masters counting from 100 to one without becoming distracted, a more complex exercise involves counting while skipping every third number. This should be done without any written aids to keep track of the progression.
A walking concentration exercise includes counting steps. At first, the count goes up to five steps, with one number added for each additional series of steps until 10 steps are taken. If a person loses track of during the exercise, he or she should start over by going back to counting five steps.
Concentration exercises can also employ a common object, such as a piece of fruit or flower. The process consists of intense observation of the texture, smell, color, or shape of the object. Care should be taken to avoid thinking about how the object is used, where it was purchased, or any other thought that takes attention away from the physical properties of the item.
Words might also be used in concentration exercises with repetition of a certain sound. In this exercise, the word is repeated mentally many times. A person practicing this exercise should not get sidetracked by the definition of the word or how it is used. The goal is to focus on the mental image of how the word sounds.
Once these concentration exercises have been mastered, visualization might improve the ability to focus. A person might imagine the object used in a previous exercise and attempt to recreate the sensations experienced. The mind might visualize the color, shape, and texture of the object from all angles.
A quiet place free from outside noise typically makes a good environment to practice concentration exercises. Some people use deep breathing techniques to relax before beginning these exercises. They might begin practicing five minutes each time and eventually expand the time to 15 minutes of focused attention.
Concentration exercise might improve study skills and control the mind’s focus when a task is at hand. When a person focuses on one thing at a time, he or she might accomplish work with less strain. Good concentration improves memory and might improve problem-solving skills.