concentration

I just finished reading "Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius" (Angeline Stoll Lillard), and I've been thinking about one of the topics discussed in the book: concentration. One of the primary objectives of the Montessori method is to help children develop the ability to concentrate on tasks, which is thought to enhance learning.  It makes sense to me that you can gain a greater understanding of something if you can delve deeply into it. The quote that caught my attention is that "once concentration is established, the teacher must endeavor not to disturb the child." So once a child has gotten focused on something, the teacher's job is simply to make sure the child is not interrupted so they can fully immerse themselves in their task.

Concentrating on his work

Personally, I find concentration to be difficult. At work, I'm distracted from what I'm working on by phone calls, e-mails, interruptions by coworkers, and meetings (and maybe some blogs I haven't checked since, like, an hour ago).

At home, both my toddler and my smartphone almost constantly demand that my attention shift from one thing to the next.  It seems to me that, over time, this type of distracted-attention lifestyle has reduced my ability to concentrate.  The result is that now it's not just that I don't have the time to focus on something, but that when I do have the time, my mind wanders so easily. I'm always thinking about what's next or what else I should be doing or what I need to add to the grocery list.

How important is the ability to concentrate?  I consider it to be very important. I want to have conversations with people where my mind doesn't start to wander as soon as they start talking about themselves. I want to be able to develop the kind of knowledge that comes from studying something deeply. I want to immerse myself in something so completely that everything around me falls away, leaving only me and my task. I want to really focus on my son while we are playing together and be present in the moment. For me, concentration is both life-enriching and immensely enjoyable.

So how does one increase one's ability to concentrate? I don't know. Montessori school is probably not an option for me. Meditation? More time spent on activities that inspire concentration in me?  Coffee?

I feel I could take a lesson from my son, who dives headfirst into concentration on a daily basis. When something sparks his interest, he doesn't put it off until he's done with some half-completed chore. He gets down to business with complete focus, and there are few things that can distract him from his task. He takes the time he needs, and when he's satisfied with his work, he puts it down and moves on.

What do you think? When do you concentrate the best?