This is a post from SikhSangat.com by a user called Khaalis in response to keeping focus whilst doing Simran. I'm sure I struggle more than most..it's a great post:
When a distraction enters the mind... smile. It's there because it is a personal experience (something you saw, heard, felt). Don't feel upset/panicked/worried/depressed, understand that your present action (bhagti) is the answer to ensuring that all experiences here on, are pavitar. It's usually the hurt of stress/bad experience that brings us to remember Vaheguru. Acknowledge it, relax and it will swiftly pass by. Fight to remove it... and it will stay (even if in a subtle form).
Rather than risk your simran being interrupted, prepare the focus/concentration before hand, this is what Sant advise, and it works. Never go straight to simran (until you are accomplished). Always start with a Japji Sahib (full dhyaan, said aloud with correct ucharan). The focus on each word, it's arthh, the flowing poetry will blow away any distraction. By the time you complete the Jap Ji Sahib, your mind should already by super-focused and in total peace. That is the perfect time to go into naam simran. As in most disciplines - a higher preparation ratio will always ensure a higher quality/level execution of the main objective.
The other traditional method is to start off with sampuran Mool Mantar as already mentioned... recite it aloud until the Mantar goes internal/cyclic, then switch to Gurmantar. Sometimes we get so much anand form Mool Mantar alone, that we feel like continuing it, if so, continue it - it is Guru given anand.
Another important aspect to remember is that our Guru given Mantars are a plant. In order to receive the fruit from that plant, we need to nurture, it, care for it, feed it, give is sunlight etc. These things are manifest in ‘inspiration and karam (actions)’. We must inspire ourselves by being rehitvaan, not for fanatical ‘I’m better than you’ purposes, but to please our Gur-Pita, it’s for him we keep our rehit, not to show or tell others. Ensure you are making udham towards learning arthh of Gurbani, doing vichaar on those arthh, discussing them with sangat. Ensure you are daily listening to, reading, telling ithihaas of our Guru Sahiban or esteemed Khalsa. Ensure you are staying away from manmat lok and bad environments, these people or places drain our kamai. Learn yudh vidya (in whatever form) with dedication, keep an open mind – keep learning and improving your skill, you don’t need to talk about it, learn it for yours, your families and the Panths raksha – not just to tick your ‘cultural roots box’. Do all things with umpteen nimrata, this pleases the Guru, and increases his blessings. Do nishkaam seva, be involved in ‘some’ form of seva to increase ekta/unity/pyaar in the Panth, stay away from those that create division and argument in the Panth. Do seva to promote Sikhi in whatever form you can.
All the above have a huge impact on simran.. we can’t expect not to live a Gurmat life (sweet speech, respectful gaze, pure thoughts, considerate/selfless actions) and think our simran will be fruitful. Simran effects our lifestyle/personality, but the opposite is totally true too. It’s a circle.
At a basic level, 'association' is also a great tool to have. If dedicate one place to sit and do simran everyday, if do it at the same time everyday (we do of course aim to do it 8 pehar), whatever you do, make it a rehit, a habit. Your mind will associate all these things with the exercises of simran and it will becmoe easier.
Another thing to consider is ‘gyaan’. Many get obsessed with gyaan, this can take the form of history, theology, comparative religion etc etc. To the point that there is no effort and time for simran. And for some, the simran is simply a mechanical exercise, because gyaan is not the essential ingredient for simran. Gyaan is powerful ONLY, if it increases our bhagti, otherwise it simply serves to drag us away from Parmeshar (feed our haumai ‘I’). Many people have read and contemplated the ocean of advice on simran available on the internet by Sants. But this alone is not enough for bhagti. The gyaan is supposed to lead to a change in thought and action, and more importantly bhaav. Bhagti is only fruitful if it is done with prem. I know many academic types who have excellent knowledge over Gurbani, can quote all day, have great ithihaasik gyaan.. but struggle with ‘prem’.
Prem can only come from ‘nimrata’ (humility). And nimrata increases with prema bhagti. This then effects all our thoughts and actions and creates a person who endeavours to please everyone and be the perfect son/daughter, wife/Husband, parent, friend, work colleague, neighbour, stranger etc etc. These Gurmukhs then become residents of ‘Anandpur’ no matter where on this planet they reside.
Most importantly, always ask for naam di daat in your ardaas. This is the single most powerful action that will eventually lead us to recieving Gur-Prasad.
Forgive the random ramble and gaps in the vichaar.
Vaheguru.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥