How to Concentrate
When the world is š„š„š„
Hi Friends,
So this is the not newsletter I wrote this morning before everyone got up. Thatās in my drafts and is about how we werenāt going to publish books in the fall because of the election and now weāre moving lots of book into those slots because of, you know, a global pandemic. Fun! I have some things to say about how no one in publishing has a crystal ball and how, later, down the line, if you feel anxious about whatever pub date a publisher may give you, try to relax because thereās no perfect pub date and in the end ĀÆ\_(ć)_/ĀÆ can happen. Itās my usualy blend of optimisim with a touch of nihilism, and I think it could be helpful for some people to read.
But I canāt get it out on the page in a way that makes sense. I could just send it and let you read it and youād shrug and delete it and move on to the rest of your email. Thatās fine. Not every newsletter can be a banger. But I just know reading it that the transitions are jarring and it might not quite say the thing I want it to say, so itās going to sit in the drafts folder until I can concentrate on it more. Maybe Thursday, or maybe not. Maybe the timeliness of it will fad and Iāll forget about. Maybe tht paragraph up there is enough.
Itās not wonder I canāt concentrate. Iām trying to work 8 hours in 3 or 4 and parent a toddler when Iām not working. Thereās no downtime. Thereās no time Iām āoff.ā Iām giving myself ALL kinds of grace about this, but the thing is, I WANT to work. I WANT to focus and concentrate and write cogent arguments and do my job with a clear (enough) head. When I canāt concentrate, at least in the Before Times, this is what I would do:
Make a list or outline.
If itās just a bunch of stuff I need to do but canāt stay on task, I make a list and just do them one by one. Maybe not in order, but I try to just do the things on the list and avoid the things NOT on the list (like Twitter, Instagram, Words with Friends). If Iām writing, I make an outline, even if very brief and basic, so I can see how the ideas build upon each other and can at least get a draft to edit later.
Turn on white noise or something.
I am a big fan of very, very bad āspaā type music. Woo woo ocean sounds and ambient music and things you would hear while getting a massage or at the nail salon. (My local place in Park Slope plays the most bonkers piano coversāāMy Heart Will Go On!!!!ā and I love it.) (Sigh, I miss them and manicures.) I use this app called Relax Melodies where you can layer sounds to create your precfect white noise. Crickets + waterfall + rain on a tent = bliss
Set a timer.
Listen, I didnāt say these were revolutionary ideas. Maybe you already do the Pomodoro method. Maybe youāve never heard of it. But I bet (espeically if youāre a parent) youāve use your phoneās timer ALLLLLLLL the time. Use it on yourself. 15 minutes of email, and then you can go back to staring off into space.
This is enough. Weāre sick of lists, I know. But I hope this helps a little and is maybe just a reminder of the stuff you already know that you canāt access in your cloudy, worried brain, and that it helps just a tiny, little bit. We need all the help we can get.
If youāre enjoying this newsletter, then you should check outĀ The Daily Good, a daily newsletter with recommendations for being kinder to yourself and the planet.
OXOXOX,
Kate
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When it comes to concentration, finding the right strategies can make a huge difference in your productivity and focus. Here are a few tips that have worked for me:
Set Clear Goals: Before you start studying or working on an assignment, set specific goals for what you want to accomplish during that session. This helps keep you focused.
Create a Distraction-Free Environment: Find a quiet place where you can study without interruptions. Put your phone on silent or use apps that block distracting websites.
Take Breaks: Implementing the Pomodoro Techniqueāstudying for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute breakācan help maintain your concentration and prevent burnout.
Stay Organized: Keeping your study materials organized can help minimize distractions. Use folders, notebooks, or digital tools to keep everything in order.
Use Professional Resources: If you ever find yourself struggling to write, remember that there are services available to assist you. For instance, you can check out write a college essay https://essayservice.com/college-essay-writing-service for expert help with your assignments.
Finding the right methods for you may take some experimentation, but once you find what works, your concentration will improve significantly!