Online Resources for Concentration
Online resources for Concentration – In one of our recent blogs we explored some apps that you could download to your phone to help and support your emotional and mental wellbeing. Apps for your Mental Wellbeing. This blog looks at online resources that could help your concentration and productivity.
Forest
Forest – is an app that helps you to stay focussed on your goals or your to do list and get motivated. In particular if you are someone that finds it hard to put their phone down and stop scrolling.
Forest is essentially a Pomodoro timer. Pomodoro refers to a time management technique developed in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo. Using a kitchen timer, work was broken into intervals of typically 25 minuties, separated by short breaks.
Using the Pomodoro technique has many benefits, it can make tasks less overwhelming, it can help you feel less exhausted and so improve the quantity and quality of your work. It forces you to focus on one task at a time and improves concentration and motivation.
When you open the Forest app it asks you to choose a plant or tree that you want to grow. You then choose an amount of time that you want to work, rest or do another activity away from your phone. Your plant then grows as you are doing the activity and not scrolling. Over time you can plant a forest with the app.
I really liked this app and the pomodoro technique I found it useful and that it did help my concentration and kept me away from scrolling on my phone. There are ads with this app, but as the whole point is that you are not on your phone all the time, they are not too bothersome. I will continue to use this app to help me concentrate and stay away from my phone!
Marconi Union – Weightless
Marconi Union – Weightless this piece of music has been be specifically enginered by sound therapists to sooth your nervous system, slow your heart rate and blood ressure and lower levels of cortisol. The research was done by Mindlab and this pdf explains their findings
Its carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines help slow a listener’s heart rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
I often listen to this track when I am trying to concentrate on a piece of work and I need to block out all distractions. This music definitely helps me to focus and concentrate.
Headspace Youtube Chanel
The Headspace app is something that I use daily, however it does come with a yearly cost of around £50. I find it very useful, but if you are unfamiliar with Headspace you might want to explore the free resources they have on their Youtube channel. They have videos, and meditations on lots of subjects, including a playlist on focus and productivity. I found their focus music particularly helpful along with their video on how to transition in and out of work, particularly if you work from home. I would definitely recommend that you explore some of these free videos for inspiration on how you can foster better concentration and support in the form of focus music and meditation.
Whatever you are struggling with sometimes there is no substitute for speaking to a professional. If you are struggling with any issue you might find it beneficial to speak to a professional. If you would like formal help and would like to make an appointment with Paul, please call Paul on 07843 813 537 or fill in the form on the Contact Page, if he doesn’t answer he is probably in a session, please leave him a message and he will call you back as soon as he can.