I have mentioned the value of meditation, even short periods of say five minutes until a timer rings. You can have Google search page set a timer that runs five minutes and sounds off when the time is up. Having a sound means you don't have to check over and over to see how much time is left.
There are two types of mental activities often discussed in connection with meditation: one-point and watching thoughts. Generally it is easier to train for one-point: concentrate on one thing, one visual anchor or one focus of attention. Minds are built to wander but when you realize yours has wandered off the target, just bring it back.
The other common practice is to sit and watch thoughts, themes, ideas drift by. They can be seductive and smoothly draw you in, so gently that you don't know you are being drawn. But eventually, you may realize you are thinking about the little red-headed girl or painting the living room. When you do, bring your naughty attention back to the anchor and try again.
Eckhart Tolle has several books and workshops that take a third direction: using the Now in a strong and focused way. Do whatever you want to do but focus just on what you are doing with your hands and your eyes and not on the future or the past - just what is currently in front of you. This is the approach described in "Breath by Breath" by Larry Rosenberg. A very old Korean monk advised Rosenberg and his group to just focus on washing the dishes, preparing the next meal, and cleaning up and keeping all thoughts just on what is right in front of them.
