Concentration

Of the many writing skills available to us, concentration is one of the most important. It can also be quite challenging. It’s worth considering what helps us focus. Concentration boosts quality.

Getting ready
I’ve tightened my routine to help me get and stay focused.

• Make lists. I keep a project list (everything I need to do), along with lists of daily and weekly goals. I check off completed steps so I can see progress and benefit from the energy this generates.
• Clear your desk. Removing items that take up physical and mental space helps me concentrate on the task at hand.
• Make a plan. A plan with a timetable that includes interim steps keeps me on track to complete complex projects on time.
• Write things down. When something I need to do pops into my mind, I write it down so I can forget about it, knowing I’ll be reminded later.
• Turn off your phone and email. This is very important because it will save you time and help you focus. You’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish in an hour or even 30 uninterrupted minutes.

When you still can’t focus
This scenario may be familiar: You’re working away when, imperceptibly at first, your mind strays and soon you realize you’re on a different course altogether. Here’s what I do:

• Make up incentives. If I double down and work for another 30 minutes I can take a break.
• Face the consequences. If I don’t get a project done before dinner, I’ll have to do it after dinner.
• Get inspired. I briefly redirect. Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem wasn’t just a show stopper. It’s reinvigorating.
• Let it go. This is when I accept reality and temporarily move on to something else. Productive time takes less time.

Distractions can be helpful
The day after the Inauguration I was busy writing when a stray image appeared in my mind of our new president, President Biden, working at his desk. I felt relieved and relaxed and quickly re-engaged with my work.

Your suggestions
Many of you sent creative ideas following my last article, Writer’s Block, that help you stay on track: meditation, yoga, classical music, physical activity, and nature. Art can be meditative, and music, dance, cooking, or in my case, Spanish lessons can help us plan our time and stay focused when we’re back at our desks.