How do you stay focused?

[buster]

I've always had concentration issues. My mind wonders easily, and it's hard for me to read a book for more than an hour at a time unless it's something I'm really interested in. I was told I have ADD. Some have said that people with ADD love the internet because you can continuously control/change what you are viewing.

I'm bringing this up because I plan on taking a few classes this fall, and possibly studying for the CFA exam. I've been away from school for awhile. I'm looking for ways to improve my concentration, and avoid being distracted. I'm also curious if any of you have suggestions or similar issues focusing?

 

[Steve S]

Amphetamine salts.

 

[expat]

Remove any other distractions.
I find it very hard to focus if there is noise (or even music) in the background. Set up an area for study, and don't do anything else there 'but' study.

 

[chubbs1]

Practice practice practice, you have to sit down and study (force yourself at first), it will finally become habit and even enjoyable at times. I have the same issues you have, after I have studied what I need to (or focused on what I need too) I can look at BITOG as a reward!;-)

 

[chubbs1]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Amphetamine salts.

Those work too...LOL

 

[mrsilv04]

I'm going back to college as well. (I just got home from night classes...)

I've found that it is easiest to study between 9pm and about 2am.

I'll take a nap after work, eat, watch an hour of TV, then hit the books.

I isolate myself in a room in the back of the house. Run a fan for a little white noise to cover up anything that might distract me. Sometimes a special drink as well... a mug of hot chocolate in the winter.

Seems to work, I'm a 4.0 student for the first time in my life. When I was in college out of high school, I averaged a 3.2 GPA.

 

[buster]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Amphetamine salts.


Not the biggest fan of meds.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: buster
Originally Posted By: Steve S
Amphetamine salts.


Not the biggest fan of meds.
They work for ADD!!!

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: expat
Remove any other distractions.
I find it very hard to focus if there is noise (or even music) in the background. Set up an area for study, and don't do anything else there 'but' study.


Funny, I found the opposite during uni.

I needed music playing, but it HAD to be something that I was very familiar with (Iron Maiden's Piece of Mind, and 7th Son, Whitesnake Slip of the Tongue, Motley Crue Shout at the Devil, or Ratt Invasion of your privacy were about the only ones).

It's probably similar to the white noise issue.

 

[sciphi]

Get your study area neat and organized. Also, make a calendar of everything you have due as soon as you get the syllabus. Then you can keep on top of everything a lot better.

And, I've found taking a short walk, about 10 minutes, works wonders for a short break.

 

[Oilpants]

Originally Posted By: buster
I've always had concentration issues. My mind wonders easily, and it's hard for me to read a book for more than an hour at a time unless it's something I'm really interested in. I was told I have ADD. Some have said that people with ADD love the internet because you can continuously control/change what you are viewing.

I'm bringing this up because I plan on taking a few classes this fall, and possibly studying for the CFA exam. I've been away from school for awhile. I'm looking for ways to improve my concentration, and avoid being distracted. I'm also curious if any of you have suggestions or similar issues focusing?


My mind wonders also but I think its normal because human's are curious by nature!! I have no problem's concentraiting I can stare at a wall for an hour and my mind is just gone. I would suggest getting lotsa sleep when you go back to school that should help you concentrait

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: buster
I've always had concentration issues. My mind wonders easily, and it's hard for me to read a book for more than an hour at a time unless it's something I'm really interested in. I was told I have ADD. Some have said that people with ADD love the internet because you can continuously control/change what you are viewing.

I'm bringing this up because I plan on taking a few classes this fall, and possibly studying for the CFA exam. I've been away from school for awhile. I'm looking for ways to improve my concentration, and avoid being distracted. I'm also curious if any of you have suggestions or similar issues focusing?


I have this same thing but never discussed it with my doctor. I just put up with it and every time my mind wanders I put myself back on to what I was doing previous to that. It can be a $!#@ some times and it's not easy in the beginning but it does get easier as you force yourself back on to what you were doing.

It also helps to set out a schedule ahead of time. Eg: Ok, I'm going to read this book for an hour and then take a break or stop. That way when you wander you can say to yourself, only 20 minutes left then I can do what I want, till then I must focus on the book.

Caffeine and lack of sleep makes it worse and I also find a poor diet will too.

Good Luck.

 

[dishdude]

I can't even stay focused enough to read the responses to this post...I skimmed!

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
I can't even stay focused enough to read the responses to this post...I skimmed!

Me, too.

as for the OP, I don't think he is in a unique situation. I think a vast majority of people have issues with staying focused. nothing wrong with it although people who can concentrate on things have a much better success rate in professional life.

unfortunately, I can't offer a solution. I have a similar issue but have gone through undergrad and two graduate schools. It's not as big of a deal as doctors may make it sound.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Buster - I don't think you have ADD, I simply think you have a very curious, wide ranging mind which is constantly scanning the horizon. I study personality type, and what you describe is one of the major types, which also happens to be mine.

You will need to develop your own style, which accommodates your tendencies rather than fights them. I only read for an hour or so myself. Sometimes this is because I need to get up and move around, which medical experts are now saying is highly advisable.

Other times, when reading heavy material, I need the time for it to sink in and process, so I deliberately read for a while, then do something else (which might include reading lighter material), then repeat. When I read, I skim first, to get a meta-view of where the material is going, where I should spend my time, and what I will encounter, or should take-away, when I am in each section.

I have also found that I am highly susceptible to my environment - the chair must be good, the light is highly important, and I need to be away from other people who are having conversations or might break into "my space".

Meditation directly improves your ability to concentrate, both on the subject of what you are doing, and on the process by which you are doing it. Some people also say it reduces your need for sleep by at least a 1:1 ratio to the time you spend meditating.

As a side note, I went through a CFA study program at one time, but by the end I decided I no longer wanted to do that.

 

[buster]

Thanks for the advice guys. Appreciate it.

TooMany, the CFA program is pretty tough. My boss could not pass part 3. It takes a lot of dedication and concentration. I find that if I'm not motivated or truly interested in something, I struggle learning it.

 

[mechtech2]

Buster -
Actually, when studying, it has been shown that brief periods of intensive study then taking breaks is best.
Something like 10 minutes work then rest.
Why? Among other things, the primary reasoning is that we remember the first and last things best. More starts and stops simply means more firsts and lasts!

So you may turn your perceived disadvantage into an advantage!

Also, proper nutrition is more than important. Our bodies are not made of vitamins, but minerals. We need ALL of them in various amounts, in the proper form. The modern diet in America needs supplementation.
EVERTHING will work better.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
You will need to develop your own style, which accommodates your tendencies rather than fights them. I only read for an hour or so myself. Sometimes this is because I need to get up and move around, which medical experts are now saying is highly advisable.

Other times, when reading heavy material, I need the time for it to sink in and process, so I deliberately read for a while, then do something else (which might include reading lighter material), then repeat. When I read, I skim first, to get a meta-view of where the material is going, where I should spend my time, and what I will encounter, or should take-away, when I am in each section.

I have also found that I am highly susceptible to my environment - the chair must be good, the light is highly important, and I need to be away from other people who are having conversations or might break into "my space".



I agree. I find it better to take a break, let things sink in, feed your distractions and then get back. When doing large tasking, I find that slowly I converge into a groove where then im no longer distracted, and if I do take breaks then, they are short and focused, and execution is very efficient.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: buster
Thanks for the advice guys. Appreciate it.

TooMany, the CFA program is pretty tough. My boss could not pass part 3. It takes a lot of dedication and concentration. I find that if I'm not motivated or truly interested in something, I struggle learning it.


I'm working on my CPA exam and I understand. It's probably the most boring thing ever to study.

 

[andyd]

After about the 6th abuse of dexedrine back in my misspent youth, the stuff gave me ADD. About then, I gave it up. Caffeine and nicotine are my current drugs. My trouble is that I tend to over think situations until I get familiar with stuff. Thats too fine a focus.