The late, great writer Kurt Vonnegut once said, “The secret of success in any human endeavor is total concentration.” It was 100 percent accurate. Here's how to focus your attention. Concentration, which is defined as “the action or power of concentrated attention or mental effort,” plays an important role in every aspect of your life. Think about everything you have achieved in your life. At moments of peak achievement, focus was engaged. Studying to pass exams? Do you have a deadline for the project? Do you want to actively listen to a co-worker or family member? Yes. You needed concentration for all of the above. However, concentration is much more than just having the superpower to focus your mind. It also:Improves your short-term and long-term memory.Helps you control your thoughts and actions.Allows you to have more control over situations.Improves decision-making skills.Makes you feel more confident and positive.Helps you become a better problem solver.Gives you a clear picture of about who you are and what your goals are. And here's the fun part. You don't have to be born with an uncanny ability to concentrate. This is something you can develop with practice by doing the following. Think of your mind as a muscle. If you decide you want to get physically fit but are starting from scratch, the worst thing you can do is go into extreme training program. Taking an approach that is too extreme will lead to injury, frustration, or both, and you'll quit before you've even really begun. The same is true when it comes to learning how to focus your attention. Let's say that “your attention span is currently quite sluggish.” The best thing to do is to “slowly build up the weight you ask him to lift.” In other words, “start with a fairly simple goal and work your way towards it.” The Pomodoro Method is a great technique to help you get started. Yes, it's the same calendar and productivity hack where you do about 45 minutes straight and then take a 15 minute break. However, as you gradually build up your focus muscles, we recommend that you “set a timer for 5 minutes and focus completely on your work/reading during this period. Then take a 2 minute break and then continue for another 5 minutes. Add another 5 minutes each day to your focused work time, as well as an additional 2 minutes to your breaks. Guess what? In just nine days, 45 minutes of work shouldn't be a problem. And, once you feel comfortable, you can lengthen your focusing sessions a little by reducing the amount of time you take breaks. Meditate: Meditation is a simple and proven way to improve your mental focus. There are many ways to meditate, and this one works primarily because it encourages us to pay attention to the present. But it also helps us recover from distractions and curb stress reactions. Researchers have also found that it helps treat people with anxiety, depression and ADHD. To reap these benefits, it only takes 10 minutes of meditation a day. If you've never meditated before, I highly recommend downloading a dedicated app on your phone or searching for meditation practices on YouTube . Both methods offer guided meditations for beginners. Optimize your environment. No surprises here. Just like your productivity, your workspace will affect your ability to concentrate. Even if sudden noise jolts are beyond your control, you can invest in noise-canceling headphones. These headphones will come in handy when there is background noise in your office or home. If there are screaming children, make sure they are okay, or help them find something interesting to do. If someone else is responsible for the children, put on headphones and leave it inpeace. Another option would be to listen to music, preferably classical, to drown out background noise while activating both sides of your brain. Other ways to optimize your environment could be: Remove clutter from your work space. Buy ergonomic furniture. Place plants and artwork around your work space. .Get proper lighting and set the temperature to around 20 degrees.Hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your desk or door.Turn off electronic distractions such as TV and smartphone. Take short breaks. Short-term distractions improve concentration. Reason? Taking breaks combats a phenomenon called “decreased vigilance,” which is simply losing focus over time. Scientists used to view attention as a limited resource that would be used up over time, which is wrong. You begin to perform poorly on a task because you have stopped paying attention to it. But you always pay attention to something. Attention - this is not a problem. Solution? Disabling and reactivating your goals will allow you to stay focused. From a practical standpoint, research shows that when faced with long tasks (like studying for a final exam or doing taxes), it's best to take short breaks. Taking short breaks to think will help you focus on your task. Go back and review the Pomodoro Method. Work for about 45-50 minutes and then give your brain a rest. However, choose your breaks wisely. Instead of immersing yourself in social media, go outside for a walk. Research has shown that time spent outdoors improves concentration. Don't believe the myth of multitasking. The human brain is wired to do one task at a time. It's impossible to change the way our brains are wired, so it's best to accept reality and avoid multitasking. If you choose to multitask, you will lose time and efficiency that you won't be able to get back. So, instead of trying to be “superhuman,” give your full attention to one thing at a time. Get into the game. You can try your hand at chess , crosswords, sudoku or memory games. Buy a puzzle with a thousand pieces. Besides strengthening your focus, they can also improve your memory and problem-solving skills. It's also a great way to spend time with friends and family. Studies have proven that even video games help improve attention. Just have a sense of proportion. Improve your well-being. Factors such as insufficient sleep, poor diet, dehydration, hunger and lack of physical activity can also affect your concentration. There's nothing shocking about it though. After all, you have time on your calendar for exercise, especially yoga. Also, make sure you get enough sleep every night, usually 6 to 8 hours. And don't forget to drink plenty of water and eat concentration-boosting foods, such as fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, blueberries, walnuts and avocados. If you take medications such as antihistamines or pain relievers, talk to your doctor. They can also impair your concentration. And don't neglect your mental health. It's nearly impossible to concentrate when you're struggling with anxiety, stress, or depression. Physical activity and a balanced diet can help. But you can also try keeping a gratitude journal, limiting your social media use, or talking to a mental health professional. Manage your energy, not your time. If a task requires your full attention, then schedule it for a time of day when you have the energy needed for concentration. For example, you notice that your creative energy is highest in the morning. So, that's when you make your best written and strategic business decisions. Almost