Every student wants success in life and being good in studies is one of the founding steps toward it. Being good in studies demand good mental and intellectual capacity. This capacity can be increased by following these three factors:
In this blog, I will scientifically present to you how to increase your concentration in studies.
What is Concentration?
We talk of concentration so much that we often lack to grasp its actual meaning. What is concentration by the way? Concentration, according to Indian traditions (which the modern psychology also holds), is not just focus of the mind on a particular object, but holding that focus for a long period of time is what qualifies as concentration. Just as the sunlight, when concentrated on a paper continuously for some minutes under a magnifying glass, burns it, the mind also, when concentrated give desired fruits of success to an individual.
How to Develop Concentration and Make it Enjoyable!
Our mind does not like to focus. This is a harsh reality. This is the reason we do not like to study. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has dedicated his entire life researching in the study of attention and concentration. His most popular achievement is the Flow Theory where he explains how developing focus could actually be enjoyable and blissful if done in a particular way!
That state when the act of focusing of mind becomes pleasurable is called “flow”. When is this flow developed?
The crucial technique of improving concentration is- consider ‘challenge’ in y-axis and ‘skill’ in x-axis. When skill is less and challenge is more, the line formed would be more vertical. At this stage the mind experiences arousal, anxiety, worry and apathy. For example, working on a project for the first time brings anxiety because one’s mind is not skilled enough for that work. This, according to Mihaly, is not good for improving focus as the mind is too much in stress.
When skill is more and challenge is less, the line formed would be more horizontal. At this stage the mind experiences control, routine expertise, boredom and apathy. This, according to Mihaly, is also not good for improving focus as the mind is too relaxed.
When the skill and challenge are equally balanced, it is called flow. In this process, you are forced to use all your power and concentration is made naturally (without effort) in that process. This focus is very healthy, beneficial and enjoyable. It develops the self-confidence. Mihaly says that that best method to develop this “flow” is the practice of meditation based on Patanjali Yoga Sutras (which I shall explain in some other blog).
I hope you liked first part of the Series- How to Increase Your Brain Capacity? Please follow my blogs for more knowledgeable and fruitful information.
Thanks!
