Comments on: On the Value of Hard Focus http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/ Demystifying Sustainable Success Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:43:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Ah, this is quite familiar « Dear Lee :: Love, Me http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-12759 Ah, this is quite familiar « Dear Lee :: Love, Me Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:17:54 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-12759 [...] sitting here on my couch, endeavoring to engage in hard focus and failing, as usual.  I’m very emotional today, due to the stresses of these school [...] […] sitting here on my couch, endeavoring to engage in hard focus and failing, as usual.  I’m very emotional today, due to the stresses of these school […]

]]> By: Dave King http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-11567 Dave King Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:26:57 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-11567 Having a second grader and a freshman in college, I have been intrigued by your thoughts on studying. What worked for me in the second year of medical school was the following routine: Reading and studying transcribed notes for 45-60 minutes then I would exercise ( I initially started walking one mile then progressed over time to running it). I would then sit down and do it over again 4-5 iterations per evening. What was interesting was that I jumped my class rank from 60th out of 120 to 30th. It wasnt till this year when I read Ratey's Spark that I learned why this may be quite helpful. It seems that exercise increases BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrphic Factor) and for a period will increase the strength of the synapses that are formed. If interested in a synopsis, google on youtube spark ratey google and a 45 minute lecture by the author to google employees will appear. And no, Im not related nor do I get an incentive to reference this book. Keep the ideas coming.... Having a second grader and a freshman in college, I have been intrigued by your thoughts on studying. What worked for me in the second year of medical school was the following routine:

Reading and studying transcribed notes for 45-60 minutes then I would exercise ( I initially started walking one mile then progressed over time to running it). I would then sit down and do it over again 4-5 iterations per evening.

What was interesting was that I jumped my class rank from 60th out of 120 to 30th.

It wasnt till this year when I read Ratey’s Spark that I learned why this may be quite helpful. It seems that exercise increases BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrphic Factor) and for a period will increase the strength of the synapses that are formed. If interested in a synopsis, google on youtube spark ratey google and a 45 minute lecture by the author to google employees will appear. And no, Im not related nor do I get an incentive to reference this book.

Keep the ideas coming….

]]> By: Micael Widell » Konsten att lära in nya rutiner http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-11056 Micael Widell » Konsten att lära in nya rutiner Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:54:22 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-11056 [...] att lära in nya rutiner Läste idag ett bra blogginlägg om det här med att fokusera på rätt saker - att fokusera på det man behöver få gjort. Det [...] […] att lära in nya rutiner Läste idag ett bra blogginlägg om det här med att fokusera på rätt saker - att fokusera på det man behöver få gjort. Det […]

]]> By: Ken Kurosawa http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10933 Ken Kurosawa Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:28:10 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10933 Cal, thanks for the article. I'll have to get a hold of Murakami's book. (I loved "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World") I've always had a short attention span and with the Internet my attention span got even shorter. I've acknowledged that I need to really get my self into shape and started a 'focus training regiment.' I hope to see some improvement in the next few months! Cal, thanks for the article. I’ll have to get a hold of Murakami’s book. (I loved “Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World”) I’ve always had a short attention span and with the Internet my attention span got even shorter. I’ve acknowledged that I need to really get my self into shape and started a ‘focus training regiment.’ I hope to see some improvement in the next few months!

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Are You a Guitar Player or Club Owner? http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10753 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Are You a Guitar Player or Club Owner? Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:01:58 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10753 [...] intrigued by this observation that we prefer stress over hard focus. My current hypothesis proposes two [...] […] intrigued by this observation that we prefer stress over hard focus. My current hypothesis proposes two […]

]]> By: Scott and Becky go East » Blog Archive » Re-integration and future plans http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10100 Scott and Becky go East » Blog Archive » Re-integration and future plans Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:50:42 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10100 [...] on my mental fitness through hard focus training, mindfulness, and [...] […] on my mental fitness through hard focus training, mindfulness, and […]

]]> By: Sarah Nguyen http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10068 Sarah Nguyen Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:58:50 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-10068 Wait, so you don't take any breaks during your 3-hour hard focus sessions? I can get about 5-6 blocks of 50 minutes studying & 10 minute breaks ~6 days a week, but only with 10 minute rests in between, and sometimes a long dinner with friends + classes. Do you have any specific suggestions to increase your "study/concentration threshold"? :) Wait, so you don’t take any breaks during your 3-hour hard focus sessions? I can get about 5-6 blocks of 50 minutes studying & 10 minute breaks ~6 days a week, but only with 10 minute rests in between, and sometimes a long dinner with friends + classes. Do you have any specific suggestions to increase your “study/concentration threshold”? :)

]]> By: What sacrifices are required to achieve focus? http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-9768 What sacrifices are required to achieve focus? Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:05:45 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-9768 [...] (calnewport.com) Study Hacks » Blog Archive » On the Value of Hard Focus [...] […] (calnewport.com) Study Hacks » Blog Archive » On the Value of Hard Focus […]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Ice Bath Method: Easing Into Painful Projects http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-9744 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Ice Bath Method: Easing Into Painful Projects Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:12:11 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-9744 [...] Later that same day, use the results of your brainstorming to set the foundation for one hour of hard focus. [...] […] Later that same day, use the results of your brainstorming to set the foundation for one hour of hard focus. […]

]]> By: My daily readings 08/23/2009 « Strange Kite http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-9555 My daily readings 08/23/2009 « Strange Kite Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:44:58 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-9555 [...] Study Hacks » Blog Archive » On the Value of Hard Focus [...] […] Study Hacks » Blog Archive » On the Value of Hard Focus […]

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