What do you do to Stay Focused?

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

I've recently been finding it harder and harder to focus on my personal projects for long periods of time. I'm constantly distracted by everything around me, and I know that I could get a lot more done if I could just focus and work consistently. I wanna know what you guys do to stay focus on something for a long period of time. Maybe what you guys do will give me a few ideas of what I could try.

So, when you guys need to work on a tedious or otherwise not-very-interesting project, what do you do to keep your minds focused and active?

Edited February 17, 2015 by Geek0zoid

[Handsome Changeling 1,851]

To focus at School Work or Work Experience I do chew on things, chewing gum, pens, pencils, plastic, anything I can get my teeth on, I find chewing stuff helps concentration.

[RainbowGlass 224]

It just so happens I am working on my chain mail tunic as I glanced over this post in the forums. Each ring is pinched by hand with needle nose pliers and the overall length of gauged wire I've used is longer than 4 football fields, yes, I've crunched the numbers. It is kingsmail a pattern which requires twice as many rings as regular chainmail. So, needless to say, this takes an INCREDIBLE amount of time and patience. To cope, I open NPR all songs 24/7 and hit play on my computer. I use the music to wander around in my thoughts, doing a lot of explorative thinking really helps pass time by! Dunno, hope this helps! 

Edited February 15, 2015 by RainbowGlass

[Shift 4,272]

I eat a lot of candy (I'm a huge sweet tooth, I practically run on sugar) or I just doodle a bit. For whatever reason doodling helps me be more focused despite the fact it looks like the opposite.

 

EDIT: Oh, and play some video game / movie / etc music. Currently the FE:A and RWBY soundtracks are my most played.

Edited February 15, 2015 by Shift

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

I eat a lot of candy (I'm a huge sweet tooth, I practically run on sugar) or I just doodle a bit. For whatever reason doodling helps me be more focused despite the fact it looks like the opposite.

 

EDIT: Oh, and play some video game / movie / etc music. Currently the FE:A and RWBY soundtracks are my most played.

For games, I'd, at most, listen to the soundtracks.

[Ironbyte 257]

To focus at School Work or Work Experience I do chew on things, chewing gum, pens, pencils, plastic, anything I can get my teeth on, I find chewing stuff helps concentration.

 

This is me also. It works, i dunno why but it works for me sometimes.

I've ruined quite a few nintendo DS pens due to this, they look like a dogs been playing with them aha.

Edited February 15, 2015 by Ironbyte

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

This is me also. It works, i dunno why but it works for me sometimes.

I've ruined quite a few nintendo DS pens due to this, they look like a dogs been playing with them aha.

I remember chewing on the ends of the styluses when I was young XP

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

if there isn't a set deadline, then I never try to tackle the project I'm doing all at once. I do some at this time, some at that time.

Take for example cleaning the yard, something me and my father have been working on. We trim some bushes one day, rake leaves another day, etc. 

 

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs" - Henry Ford

[Shift 4,272]

@@Geek0zoid,

 

When you were young? I still occasionally do it, it's practically become habit. ...a bad habit.

[Felix 1,363]

Instrumental music. Sound, anything that makes noise. I know it goes against being able to focus in a quiet environment, but for me, I actually cannot focus in a quiet environment. When it's quiet it's easy for me to get bored and start staring off into space. When I have music or some other sound on though the noise keeps my brain in check with things going on around me and so it's harder for me to lose myself in the silence. It works the most with homework and worksheets but with studying I need a silent environment.

Edited February 15, 2015 by Felix

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Geek0zoid,

 

When you were young? I still occasionally do it, it's practically become habit. ...a bad habit.

With my 3DS, I don't do it at all. The only time I ever ruin a stylus is when I lose the thing.

But, I digress. Chewing on gum IS said to help concentration.

[Invincible 2,091]

It depends. I'm one of the most fuzzy and inattentive people ever, but when i have to, i'll do what i must. I blot out superfluous input from my senses by either removing outside stimuli or replacing it with negligible effects; all within the realm of possibility of course.

 

If i have to read a paper, i try to stay focused on reading a paper - i make sure i can only read the paper and nothing more, i put on some chilling background music to avoid picking up distractions from other sounds, i drink something soothing to relax my body while i read, etc. The rest i fill in with willpower.

 

That's about the extent of staying focused.

[Night Wing 387]

i just focus, nothing else to it

[Ze Ubermage 226]

Well I like to either sit in a quiet room or listen to upbeat music. I hope this helped in any way =)

[CandyStrike 603]

Honestly, I take meds for that. I have ADHD.

[DATA EXPUNGED 324]

I sometimes write out the values of 0 to 63 in binary to keep me focused. 

[Haruhi-chan 486]

I listen to music. Seriously, music helps me in so many ways. It blocks everything out around me, and it does help me focus a million times better than anything as well. However, it's not really helping me today because I can't get my mind to stop thinking about Jui for one measly minute. DX

[Ricebug 555]

Its hard someone with bad ADHD like myself X3 I just listen to music and try my hardest but I always find something pointless to play with X3! Or to distract me you know how it is

Edited February 26, 2015 by Daiy

[Justin_Case001 4,896]

I'm lucky in this regard because I've never had trouble focusing.  I've always had a talent for diligence.  I can just tell myself, "today, we're gonna grind our ass off on this project."  And then I just do it.

[catnet 9,357]

Most of the time, I'll get some nice and energetic or relaxing music (preferably without lyrics) playing at a reasonable volume, while chewing some gum in my bedroom =)

[Yoshi89 5,293]

I usually grab a Coke but since I gave up soda for Lent, I grab water instead.