Help! I can't focus more than x minutes

Consistency is everything

enjoyment, play, work, "having to",

take pleasure

• try and find other clever ways to squeeze in practice. Do you have a lunch break? Might be able to find a place at/near your office you can practice.
• don't stress about the amount of time in a given day
• weekends ought to be better
• Make sure you have a solid plan about what you're going to practice (taking lessons can actually make this better or worse)
• stay super focused
• make sure you have whatever tools are necessary to maximize your limited practice time.

I bet you can find 15 minutes almost every day if it's enough of a priority! That can keep you moving forward. It doesn't have to be hours. The key is consistency. Maybe invest a little extra time each week and make a weekly practice schedule - so you won't waste any of that 15 minutes you've set aside. Honestly, it's pretty hard to focus for more than 15 minutes anyways.. I think most will agree it just turns into noodling.

Be specific in your planning - Something like this:

Monday - Major and Minor scales in the keys of C, F, and G

Tuesday - Arpeggios - Diminshed and Augmented in key of A

Wednesday - Chords - Major 7th and Minor 9th chords in 1st inversion - in Bb

Thursday - New pentatonic licks - Keith Richards, Chuck berry (have transcripts prepared)

Friday - Passing tones - Jazz chord changes - 100bpm jazz feel. Try 140bpm.

etc. You'll enjoy creating next weeks lesson plan over the weekend, you can amend as you go. It's truly amazing where you can get to when you write the map! (I sound like Tony Robbins lol)

So there would be an hour and 15 minues of intense and productive practice in just one week. After a year you would probably be way ahead of where you are now. Again, the key is consistency. Tortoise beats the hare!

Good luck. And feel lucky that you are busy like that. Sounds like you have a pretty full life! ;)

I HAVE considered practicing during lunch at work.

Make "play music" a quality time with your kids

Take duo lessons, or trio lessons, to learn all together.

• Table of Contents
• Stop making up excuse
• Schedule a Meeting with Yourself
• find your own time slot
• set your stage (??)
  • phone: no distraction: airplane
  • surrounding without distractions
  • candles and else
• Wake up 20 minutes earlier
• timer: minimum 30 minutes (a few minutes more that what you can)
• pomodoro
  • What is pomodoro?
  • Why pomodoro helps learning
  • How does it work?
  • Some history of the Pomodoro method
• set tasks according to your tiredness
• Be Laser focus
• Record yourself
  • Notebook
  • take one sheet of paper and journal time
  • realistic goals
  • Focus on the hardest parts
  • Take one (small) part at the time
  • Listen to a recording of what you're learning often
• eliminate less important stuff that are time consuming
• Do more than one thing at once
• Split up practice into small chunks throughout the day
• Killer Subtitle - Ukulele title example

This can be true for work, for your afternoon of work. I will give as an example playing ukulele

Stop making up excuse

and make playing music a top priority

Let's enjoy learning!

Schedule a Meeting with Yourself

In this busy world, people don't have time to do anything. Work is the Key word for some. Some others don't have much time for themselves

find your own time slot

first thing in the morning. sometime, it's the evening The day will be crazy and busy enough, but it is a great feeling to start the workday knowing that you have already done something that is important in your life.

set your stage (??)

phone: no distraction: airplane

 what if? 
   call later or text later
   this is your time to focus

surrounding without distractions

not always possible though

candles and else

Wake up 20 minutes earlier

Then increase to 30 minutes, then 40 minutes

Cut down on distractions that are less useful

Like "faire le vide en regardant la télé" What is it? Brain dead for 30 minutes watching "your show"?

Better be creative, learn something as a hobby. Relax out of it.

timer: minimum 30 minutes (a few minutes more that what you can)

Want more?

pomodoro

Work in burst to not get bored

Use the pomodoro system of time management.

It helps individuals enhance their productivity and focus.

What is pomodoro?

The pomodoro technique is a time management method that breaks work into intervals.

Traditionally those intervals are 25 minutes long, separated by short breaks.

The Pomodoro Technique is versatile and can be applied to various tasks, whether studying, working on projects, or even household chores.

Why pomodoro helps learning

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method

This structured approach not only aids in maintaining concentration but also helps in reducing mental fatigue.

By using this method, individuals can develop a better understanding of how they manage their time and where they might need to improve.

It encourages a sense of accomplishment as each completed Pomodoro is a step towards achieving larger goals. Hence it is a popular choice for those looking to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in both personal and professional settings.

How does it work?

During each Pomodoro session, the individual dedicates their full attention to a specific task, minimizing distractions and interruptions.

Once the 25 minutes are up, a short break of about 5 minutes is taken, allowing the mind to rest and recharge. After completing four Pomodoros, a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes is recommended. This cycle of work and rest promotes sustained productivity and can lead to a more enjoyable and less stressful work experience.

Some history of the Pomodoro method

Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.

The name "Pomodoro" comes from the Italian word for tomato.

Inspired by the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used during his university days.

set tasks according to your tiredness

if tired, set easier task if fit a start a week, set harder tasks

Be Laser focus

Record yourself

Recording Yourself: Record your practice sessions to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

Stay Engaged with Music

Join a Group: If possible, participate in a local ensemble or group. Playing with others can motivate you and enhance your skills.

Online Communities: Engage with online music communities to share progress, ask questions, and stay motivated.

. Be Kind to Yourself

Accept Your Limits: Understand that it's okay to have periods of less practice. Progress can be non-linear, and some time off can also lead to renewed motivation.

Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate your improvements, no matter how small.    

Finding time for music can be tough, but by integrating these strategies into your routine, you can continue to improve and enjoy playing despite a busy schedule. Remember, consistency is key, even if it’s in small doses!

Notebook

write down what to focus on

take one sheet of paper and journal time

write down how much you practice every day try to do at least 15 min

realistic goals

15 min, or 30 min Not 1hr. Later, increase slightly the time as time goes.

Focus on the hardest parts

In your precious practice time, focus on the parts you are uncomfortable playing (not the easy parts you already play well) ie the "tricky" parts.

All problems exist between two notes. Your job in your practice is to take very small segments of music in these spots, and make the tricky parts comfortable. You'll have to identify what isn't going the way you'd like, decide what practice strategy you should use to address this, and then reflect on how well your strategy worked. Rinse and repeat. Pracitce more slowly than you think you need to, seriously slow and smooth practice works. Be physically loose and free of tension when you play. Go slow to go fast.

Take one (small) part at the time

Not the whole thing

Listen to a recording of what you're learning often

in your car, when you are doing something else

that way, the rhythme won't be something to train for, to decipher, to understand. You have it in your ear

eliminate less important stuff that are time consuming

• eliminate TV if you're watching any
• eliminate video games if you're playing any

Do more than one thing at once

Counter intuitive. Conflicts with the "no distraction"

KIDS to take care of?

Maybe incorporate your practice with the kids? Music education is great for them as well as you. Sounds like a good idea to me.....practice for you, quality time for the children, and they benefit from music experience too. Good luck!

Have fun with them.

I hope for you a lot of that is enjoyable. I suppose if you played for two hours straight it must be. If you have a long list of things you have to work on, that sounds overwhelming.

To me at least, but I also take little joy in learning theory. “Having to” work on techniques amongst parental responsibilities sounds extra challenging, so I commend you if it’s something you still enjoy striving for.

Even with just one kid and not a single parent, finding time to really work on stuff (keep putting off recording and putting together songs, solo, just for fun) can definitely be a challenge.

I count jamming with my kid or sneaking in half an hour to play my guitar at all as a win.

Split up practice into small chunks throughout the day

I practice 10 minutes a day like 5 times a day. I just pick it up and practice a goal for a focused 10 minutes. I still feel like I am moving forward. My ADD does not allow for much more anyway. I don't post on youtube anymore (ads suck) and this was 8 years ago, but whatever I play here was obtained using my ADD approved 10 minute bite system! LOL! Just keep swiming!

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You may have a question about music or ukulele.

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Killer Subtitle - Ukulele title example

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Would you like some help on the regular basis?

Why not book a lesson .

You'll have the help of an expert to progress and improve, while keeping it fun.

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I hope this article has helped you :)

Have a fantastic day!