Tips for Focusing on Writing Papers
- H.A.L.T. stands for "Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired." Driving instructors advise their driving students not to get behind the wheel if they are experiencing any of those sensations. The reason is because those sensations compromise your ability to focus. If you are having trouble focusing on writing your paper, H.A.L.T. and ask yourself whether you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired. If so, don't bother trying to write a paper right now. If you are hungry, eat. If you are angry, cool off by running around for awhile or doing something physically laborious like vacuuming. If you are lonely, pick up the phone and talk it away. If you are tired, sweet dreams. Only after attending to H.A.L.T. conditions should you resume writing. Obviously, this means you will have to start writing your paper early.
- Write for 20 to 50 minutes, do something else for 5 to 10 minutes, and then repeat. In the 1984 movie "Karate Kid" Miyagi told Daniel to "Wax on, wax off," in order to learn focus. Similarly, it means hands on the keyboard, hands off the keyboard. Everything is about interdependent opposites. On and off, coming and going, writing and doing something else. Most writing coaches tell their students to "take breaks" from writing--as if there is writing, and then there is nothing. When you take breaks from writing your paper, don't just refrain from writing. That's not a real break. Instead, do something else. Vacuum, make tea, or take a walk. Meditate, or wax your karate sensei's car. Do something that needs doing, and don't think about writing a paper for the time being. When you return to the keyboard, your focus will be refreshed. And don't forget to breathe. Very important.
- Plants need plenty of water, nutrients and sunshine, or they will wilt. Same goes for your mental focus when writing a paper. Humans need a minimum of six glasses of water a day, or the mind grows foggy, so drink plenty water. While you're at it, get your recommended daily allowance of vitamins and nutrients. To activate those vitamins and nutrients, you need regular exposure to the sun, so suppress your night owl tendencies and spend some time outdoors every day. This habit will also help you to feel good on a regular basis, which compounds your mental abilities. To assure mental focus when writing a paper, pretend you're a plant.
- Find a place where there are few distractions. Reserve it for writing and no other purpose. Overstock it with writing tools: ergonomically acceptable chair and desk, office supplies galore, coffee (if that's your cup of tea) and any other objects you might need close at hand. A window to the outside world would be nice, for the aforementioned sunshine. A plant (other than yourself) lends cheer and oxygen to the writing environment. Try putting on music; for some this helps with focus, for others it distracts. Experiment with your surroundings until you have found a suitable arrangement for focusing on writing.
- You want to get that next paper finished, so figure out what goal it ultimately points to. If you are writing a paper for college, you may dream of graduating and becoming a professional underwater basket weaver. Identify and think about your true motive for writing a paper, and your concentration will improve immediately.
- Pocket or power off your Genius Phone 2000 Deluxe. Close your Web browser. Seriously, close your Web browser--unless you absolutely need it to look something up. Do what you have to do to disconnect yourself from the electronic world. It might be painful at first But don't worry: the bleeding will soon slow to a stop, and you will find yourself blissfully absorbed in writing your paper.
- When writing a paper, think of the one narrow message you want to get across, and repeat it in your head in all different ways. Do not think of two broad messages. Just one narrow one. This helps you to focus and, conveniently, helps to focus the paper itself. All else will follow from that one message.
