There are a lot of different concentration exercises that you can do. This list below isn’t an entire list. There are a lot more ways. Don’t think about these in terms of things that you look forward to doing every day. I don’t look forward to completing 11 miles every day, but the fact that I can pretty much eat anything I want solidifies that I am going to do something I don’t necessarily like doing. It’s the same when you use concentration exercises. There may be some that you like more than others. By all means, use those. Just realize that you should keep doing it when you get bored with it because it really does continue to help; that’s partially because you are taking the time to concentrate on learning something new.

1. Work up to using longer spans of focus. For this to be most effective, you need to figure out an average of just how long you can focus. This isn’t just how long you can focus on good days. This is an average of all days, good and bad, that you can easily focus. Unless I’m lecturing, my focus span (on average) is around 45 minutes. That’s the place where I start really getting bored. So, if I wanted to increase my focus to 90 minutes I wouldn’t just want to start forcing myself to work past that 45 minutes (unless I was having a particularly good day). Instead, I’d want to work up to it. I could start by working for a few days for 50 minutes instead of 45. When the 50 minutes becomes really easy for me, or when it becomes my new normal, I can move up to 55 minutes. Then, I would work at that level until I am used to that. Then, I’d move up five more minutes. I’d repeat the process until I am working, regularly, in 90 minute intervals.
2. Write down those distracting thoughts. If there are certain things that keep popping into your mind to distract you, write those things down. This acts to satisfy yourself to know that you won’t forget whatever you keep thinking about. I keep my list in Evernote.
3. Strengthen your will power. I know it sounds really lame, but it’s true. You have to strengthen your will power. Sometimes, we just have distractions in life and there’s nothing we can do other than either give in or work through it.
4. Meditation does help. Just 15-20 minutes of meditation three or four days each week can increase your focus. You should start your days off with meditation if you want to see how it affects your focus.
5. Exercise. No, really. On days like today where something comes up, I am still productive, but it just feels like there is something missing. You don’t have to be an iron man. Just get in 20 minutes of walking in the morning be it outside or on a treadmill. That’s my time of day that I use to think about projects and plan.

Please refer to the book for more details on this activity.