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Ask HN: Any scientifically proven techniques to boost concentration?

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Re: Ask HN: Any scientifically proven techniques to boost concentration?

#101

Post by k__ »

tkgally wrote: post #69

I’m not sure if it makes sense to try to find a “scientifically proven” technique if all you want is something that works for you . What works for a large group of people in a controlled scientific study does not necessarily work for each individual in that study, let alone for you. You could do a scientific study on yourself, though. Figure out some objective way to measure your own concentration, and then try vario…

I think, what most people want is a pill that makes them less distractable.

Ritalin is that pill. I know a bunch of devs that take it to code through the whole night.

But...!

1. It usually requires a prescription.

2. While it lets you hyper-focus on one task for hours, if you not careful that task could be rearranging your cutlery.

Re: Ask HN: Any scientifically proven techniques to boost concentration?

#102

Post by marpstar »

71a54xd wrote: post #77
endymi0n wrote: post #23

Just joined a Flow Working workshop by Dr. Antoine Larchez and had some interesting results. As a lifelong (functional) procrastinator with diagnosed ADHD, I brought down 2.5h of effortless (once started) work on paper, some of the best in a couple of months if not years. I have yet to see whether the methods are scaleable and replicable for me, but a lot of the content resonated with me, especially the insight that…

As someone who also has adhd and is a functional procrastinator at times saboteur I'm curious if you could elaborate on your "mind emptying exercises"?

This reminds me of an exercise from David Allen's "Getting Things Done" called "Mind Sweeping" or "Brain Dumping": https://gettingthingsdone.com/2015/05/podcast-03-david-allen...

Re: Ask HN: Any scientifically proven techniques to boost concentration?

#104

Post by ultrasounder »

meken wrote: post #90

I don’t believe it’s scientifically validated, and I don’t have a direct link off hand, but check out Trataka, which is staring at a fixed object for a set amount of time (e.g. a candle or an image with a dot). HealthyGamerGG YouTube channel has videos on it. Apparently the yogis have been doing it for 1000s of years.

Netra Trataka to be specific(Netra- Eyes). My dad has been practicing yoga for the last 30 odd years(he is 75 this year) survived a near fatal Heart attack(occlusion) but doing well now with the help of couple of stents and Yoga!. This stuff works. For the real.

Re: Ask HN: Any scientifically proven techniques to boost concentration?

#105

Post by ssijak »

dominotw wrote: post #44
vedran wrote: post #10

A few more from Dr. Huberman: ADHD & How Anyone Can Improve Their Focus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFL6qRIJZ_Y How to Focus to Change Your Brain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG53Vxum0as

I've tried to listen Huberman so many times but have hard time focusing. He seems to rattle off a list of things without any emotional hooks to keep the user engaged.

Exactly my experience. I have a feeling that he talks way to much and without a pause throwing large number of unconnected points leaving you bamboozeled on what to actually start with, what is the most proven and would give best bang for the buck.

Re: Ask HN: Any scientifically proven techniques to boost concentration?

#109

Post by gyulai »

Video game music is actually designed to increase your ability to concentrate on the game. I highly recommend listening to some as you're coding. You can get it at Bandcamp [1,2]. Trance music also works, especially Goa Trance.

Binaural beats [3,4] are also worth a try.

[1] https://bandcamp.com/tag/video-game

[2] https://bandcamp.com/tag/video-game-music

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_(acoustics)#Binaural_beat...

[4] http://gnaural.sourceforge.net/

Re: Ask HN: Any scientifically proven techniques to boost concentration?

#110

Post by lordnacho »

rthomas6 wrote: post #64

Not joking: stop going on the internet. It's scientifically proven to boost concentration. More specifically, do one thing, and only that thing, for a set time period. Do not check your phone, do not even have it in the same room. Do the one thing until time is up.

This is like saying "stop eating too much, you'll lose weight".

You have to eat and you have to use the internet.

What's the solution to not doing it to your own detriment?

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