What I found out from my own experience, nothing beats a retreat where you can immerse yourself and get your awareness and concentration to the next level. There is when I start noticing things. To have a teacher is important too. As I warm up I suggest to observe your breath and the contact of your breath on the skin of the area below your nose and above the lips, and observe the sensations that might arise and pass away. Not an easy task. We did it for the first three days of the retreat!