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Some simple tips for more concentration

Restlessness coupled with overfatigue – anyone who has ever had to sit through a long meeting or conference will know this feeling. Meetings requiring extended periods of concentration can be pretty exhausting for the body and especially for the brain. The result: it becomes more difficult to pay attention. But in a meeting, concentration is vital. Here are a few simple tricks to help you refocus.

Switch into concentration mode!

Take a break!

Taking some time out from your work helps you to recover and can even prevent burn-outs. You don’t even have to take a long break – the effect is the greatest in the first minute. Frequent small breaks are better than one big one. They also help to structure the day.

Trail mix for good ideas

Dried fruits and nuts are the perfect snack when it comes to boosting brain power. The great mix of healthy and nutritious ingredients – proteins and minerals but above all omega-3 fatty acids – help to improve the concentration. There are even indications that the omega-3 can help prevent dementia.
 
Stretching and exercise

While difficulty in concentrating can result from fatigue, it can also be caused by tense muscles. Regular stretching can help counteract this problem. Even short yoga sessions can work wonders.
 
Multitasking is a myth

The human brain is not made to handle several complex tasks at once. Multitasking has even been shown to reduce performance by 40 percent – which is certainly not more efficient. The brain cannot concentrate on several things at the same time; what it does is to switch quickly back and forth between one and the other. The recommendation: work through your projects one at a time!

Practice makes perfect

The ability to concentrate isn’t just something we are born with; we can also learn it. That we can consciously focus our attention on relevant matters while ignoring possible sources of interference hints at the possibility of improvement through training. An example of a good exercise is the children’s car game “I packed my bag…”.