• H&R Moderators: streaM Freak

Focus. Concentration. Memory Improvement.

Just wondering why you would be so against it?

Even if the supposed memory enhancement wasn't effective, surely theres no harm in increased blood flow?

It just gives me pretty nasty headaches is all. It works for some people and that's fine, but even at low doses I saw little to no benefit.

AM and PM dosing after a meal. Each capsule has 750mg of Fish Oil and 3g of Ginkgo. AUD$15 for a month.
I very much hope this a typo.
 
Ginkgo biloba thins the blood and has anticoagulant properties, like heparin or warfarin. This can be very dangerous if you're involved in physical activities where you're likely to get injured, or your blood pressure is high.

L-theanine and caffeine have a synergy that definitely enhances my cognition and makes me more motivated to perform intellectually demanding tasks.

Lecithin is the only other herbal (in the strictest sense) I've found that helps with focus and memory.
 
How to maintain focus without substances

Hi i am looking for tips on how to make my attention span last without the use of add meds.

basically safe and natural ways to help me focus...

i am pregnant and dont feel comfortable taking my add meds.... and i am worried about my ability to finish school

i feel like my ability to focus is worsening too... now i cant even watch a 1 hour tv show without getting up and doing something else... its getting worse

sooo any tips would be appreciated... :)
 
For school work, I found focusing on it for an hour or two at once too overwhelming and after a short while (about twenty minutes), I'd get distracted and do something else. I started planning to focus on homework in fifteen/twenty minute intervals--Focus for fifteen/twenty minute intervals, then do something else (dishes, vacuum, etc) for a slightly longer duration (twenty/thirty minutes), then go back to homework for another fifteen/twenty minutes. Eventually, after awhile of doing this, I stopped needing the breaks so often, and I was able to go about an hour and a half to two hours working on school work before I felt as though I needed a break. Have you tried something akin to this?

Also, using television to judge your ability to focus is rather weak in my opinion--The television doesn't require much focus to begin with and is easy to break away from. While I can see your point to say, "Well, I can't even focus on the television anymore!", I still say try focusing on something that is both rewarding and challenging, like reading a book that is slightly above your reading level. I'm currently tackling a book, a chapter or two at a time, weeks apart, because the book is one I have wanted to read for awhile, but it is so difficult to follow. Breaking it up helps.

Tl;dr: Try studying for shorter intervals and see if that helps. :)
 
I've been working on this with my therapist, I'm currently on ritalin and it's working great but I don't want to be using it for the rest of my life. For me a structured environment is key but that can be very difficult as an adult. To-do lists are a great help, I try to make one each morning for what I want to do that day as well as a monthly one for a broader picture. Adding approximate times (when/how long) can help with actually doing whats on the list. Besides that it takes time, patience, and a lot of self discipline to let the structure set in and become a habitual thing. Having someone else around that is willing to help can make starting out a lot easier. I don't know your living situation but if your husband/boyfriend or family lives with you share your plans with them and ask them to remind you if you start getting off task. On the other hand too much structure can create a lot of stress so it's important to allow ample time to relax and unwind. Hope this helps and good luck!
 
Check out lumosity.com... I've been using for a few days and it's based on sound science. Haven't noticed any benefits yet, though..
 
I'm sure someone said this but exercise and diet does wonders for me. I am in recovery and it does get fucking hard sometimes. Most people say they get alot better at work/school when they get clean but I am the exact opposite. Now that I am clean I would much rather spend time watching tv, on the web, playing games than studying or working. Sucks, but, at least I'm clean right?
 
I don't know if this would help but it can't hurt to try, some children who fig-it a lot and are restless (not necessarily all ADD) respond well to exercise, healthy diet and to try to practice just sitting or lying still whilst awake for longer and longer periods, like some sort of basic meditation.

Once you can do nothing, i.e fighting absolutely all distractions then you can be less distracted when actually working on a task.
 
I have found that the 1-2 hour window after exercise is a great time to concentrate or catch up on reading. Since I have usually exerted all of my physical energy into the exercise, I feel a lot less reluctant to move around and distract myself with the things around me which I purposefully clear from the table prior to commencing work. I have tried using a few belts to tie my legs and torso to the chair to prevent myself from moving but I cannot take myself seriously when I do this and end up getting distracted by the thought of me thinking about the thought of me being tied to a chair which eventually turns into a cluster fuck existential question about the meaning of life.
 
Anyone have any experience with any supplements which have helped improve any of the above? My memory is terrible, I can't focus on anything without my mind wandering and I'm very easily distracted.

Have tried pirecetam without luck, the taste and dosage needed were just ridicolous too.

Take A-Z multi vits / minerals on daily basis and high quality Omega fish oils but haven't noticed any change.

Stop spending so much time on the internet. It saps your attention span.
 
Usually a combination works best i think -
DMAE, Inositol and a racetam may work well.
 
Kratom (Potent Indo) improves my cognition and memory and is a 'herb.' It is also a drug that has opiate like qualities and is addictive, so you have to weight it for yourself. Personally, I dose Kratom before going to the gym and then enjoy extreme motivation, focus, and energy for several hours afterward. I also feel some withdrawal (minor) when I don't use it.
 
M e d i T a T i O n

ah, this this this. also, read a book! it's amazing the benefits that this actually provides. Increased ability to concentrate, patience, spending time NOT looking at a screen, improved vocabulary, improved memory, improved grammar, improved knowledge and understanding of the world around you.... I definitely agree supplements are good for you too but try some different activities too! You may be surprised!
 
Hmmm...Im having HUGE problems with those three words right now. Things that work for me are most things already listed. But taking time to just do one thing. Kind of like a meditation. Like I pour a cup of reallly hot tea, so i have to drink it very slowly. then do nothing while im drinking that tea but focus on the tea...the smell..flavour...sensations. Or in the shower with water pressure temperature ect..but do one thing and only one thing. Or have a contest with myself to see how long I can stay completely in the present moment. When I get in the habit of doing those things it becomes easier and I have a lot more focus energy clarity for everything else in the day. Chammomile tea works especially well for me. Ha..Im even all over the place with this post. Lately I havnt been good at these things. Tonight Im driving myself crazy...Soo scattered. Just getting ready for bed my mind wants me to do a trillion things at once..Have a problem feeling like im in a rush to do everything. Right now Im trying to chill and unwind before bed and its probably the busiest and scattered ive been all day haha. Grrr. Mmm but another thing. Writing is good too. First thing in the morning sit down and just let yourself write dont think just write for about 20 min or three big pages..Just a subconsious cleaning.
 
I excercise 4 days a week. Eat almost all unprocessed foods. Drink in moderation. Sleep at least 8 hours a night on a set schedule and I still have problems with focus and memory and brain fog.

The one thing that I can say has helped my focus more than anything this past month is organic red maca. I usually eat 1g worth in capsules and put a teaspoon in my coffee in the morning. Works awesome but you have to cycle it. I got so much stuff done that I have put off for many months. Great for sex drive too.
 
Dude you don't need anything external.

Just doing simple maths instead of using your calculator makes your memory better, and also sudoku is supposed to be very good, but trust me doing simple grocery maths witll get you where you need to be with memory after like a few years.

However Gingko Biloba is supposed to be very good for memory.

If you have a well balanced diet, then you won't need those omega-3's or multi vits - as long as you eat enough veg, nuts, seeds, and fish - then you will get all the vitamins you need (hemp seeds for the omegas, to supplement the fish).

No supplements are needed unless your body starts exhibiting external signs like mg/calcium spots on your fingernails.

Or you cut meat, eggs and dairy out of your diet - you will probably need supplements then for a while, until you work out dietary alternatives

What colour is your urine these days? Fluoresecent yellow I'll bet - excessive vitamins/minerals being excreted.

As for focus, concentration - well, if you have not practiced these things, they will not be easily achievable.

Use "candle gazing" - every night at dusk, take out a candle, sit with it burning at eye level, stare at the flame, and relax your gaze. Do this for ten minutes every night, and every time you need to blink, close your eyes instead and focus on the shape of the flame burned into your vision - the green spotty image or whatever colour you get - until it disapears into the blackness and then open your eyes and continue.
 
Dude you don't need anything external.

Just doing simple maths instead of using your calculator makes your memory better, and also sudoku is supposed to be very good, but trust me doing simple grocery maths witll get you where you need to be with memory after like a few years.

However Gingko Biloba is supposed to be very good for memory.

If you have a well balanced diet, then you won't need those omega-3's or multi vits - as long as you eat enough veg, nuts, seeds, and fish - then you will get all the vitamins you need (hemp seeds for the omegas, to supplement the fish).

No supplements are needed unless your body starts exhibiting external signs like mg/calcium spots on your fingernails.

Or you cut meat, eggs and dairy out of your diet - you will probably need supplements then for a while, until you work out dietary alternatives

What colour is your urine these days? Fluoresecent yellow I'll bet - excessive vitamins/minerals being excreted.

As for focus, concentration - well, if you have not practiced these things, they will not be easily achievable.

Use "candle gazing" - every night at dusk, take out a candle, sit with it burning at eye level, stare at the flame, and relax your gaze. Do this for ten minutes every night, and every time you need to blink, close your eyes instead and focus on the shape of the flame burned into your vision - the green spotty image or whatever colour you get - until it disapears into the blackness and then open your eyes and continue.

B1tO'RoughJack what are your thoughts on the myers cocktail (www.naturalnews.com/030599_vitamin_C_mega_dose.html), I suppose excessive vitamins/minerals is a waste in strict terms but does the excessive intake have any other negative side effects apart from excreting more?

Also thanks for the tip about candle gazing, I will read up on Trataka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trāṭaka).
 
B1tO'RoughJack what are your thoughts on the myers cocktail (www.naturalnews.com/030599_vitamin_C_mega_dose.html), I suppose excessive vitamins/minerals is a waste in strict terms but does the excessive intake have any other negative side effects apart from excreting more?

Also thanks for the tip about candle gazing, I will read up on Trataka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trāṭaka).
Nice one for that ^ I always felt like that was a good thing to do - it makes sense, thanks for the article. I personally always do it and any fairly minor illness which usually last around a week, disappears within maximum 48 hours.

Other than that though - you can seee your body is not using it - your urine tells you, and because these multi vit tablets contain such a concoction - it's hard to know what you are taking too much of so it's easier just to have a varied nutritionally balanced diet, unless you're starting out as a vegan. You're simply wasting money and the earth's precious resources otherwise - both I find utterly unacceptable.
 
Nice one for that ^ I always felt like that was a good thing to do - it makes sense, thanks for the article. I personally always do it and any fairly minor illness which usually last around a week, disappears within maximum 48 hours.

Other than that though - you can seee your body is not using it - your urine tells you, and because these multi vit tablets contain such a concoction - it's hard to know what you are taking too much of so it's easier just to have a varied nutritionally balanced diet, unless you're starting out as a vegan. You're simply wasting money and the earth's precious resources otherwise - both I find utterly unacceptable.

Yes it's very curious how as many moves towards this ideal state/nirvana/complete positive disintegration all resources become more valuable yet ultimately unimportant.

It seems that this magnitude of hierarchical thinking may somehow meet at both ends or to be able to experience the lowest and highest levels simultaneously.

I am wondering whether I am feeling the awakenings of Kundalini (I was listening to Veela which seems to have Hindu mysticism deeply embedded and had felt some kind of energy/charge up the spine, I was high) or whether this was just manifested by my imagination after reading more about these subjects.

I also wonder whether there is actually any need for distinction between the two if the end desirous state(Nirvana) is reached.
 
I think maybe you could partly awaken the energy yourself through practices or study, it's more likely to be a prana awakening. I wouldn't suggest awakening your kundalini, and shifting the blocks oneself - it can be overwhelming, and you will never know if you are ready for the power - it can even be dangerous. I've tasted it, but not been full awakened I don't think - my creativity has bounced massively and my concentration has too.
 
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