Do you have difficulty concentrating? Does your mind race or maybe just flit from topic to topic? It’s easy for most of us to become distracted from time to time, but there are several ways to calm your mind so that you can achieve what you’ve set out to do.
The following strategies can increase your focus and, as a result, boost your productivity.
1. Start early. Difficult or tedious tasks are often tempting to put off. Unfortunately, procrastinating can increase your stress, which makes it harder to complete what you want of need to do. Getting an early start on boring or demanding work lowers your stress and helps you to stay focused.
2. Take breaks. Logic suggests that you will get more done if you keep working without taking a break. More time spent means getting more done. However, when your work is particularly long or physically demanding, you can maintain greater focus by taking frequent breaks. Taking breaks allows you to recharge your energy and your relax your mind. When your energy levels are high, it is easier to concentrate.
3. Eliminate distractions. It’s easier to stay focused and complete tasks when you are free of distractions. Before you begin, ensure that you have everything you need at hand.
4. Live a healthy lifestyle. Basically the healthier you are, the better you are able to concentrate. Your body is not taking any attention away from your mind. For example, if you are in pain , chronic or temporary, it is hard to focus on other things except as a way to distract you from the pain. Not being in the best of health makes it more difficult to focus, but it is still possible. It just takes a bit more work.
Being in good health reduces stress and makes it easier to concentrate on your work.
• Having a healthy diet gives you the nutrients that you need for both your mind and body to operate at peak performance.
• Walking and other moderate exercise can help you clear your mind. Exercise increases the blood flow to your brain, which can increase your ability to focus.
• Getting enough sleep gives you the energy that you need to prevent your thoughts from wandering.
• Drink plenty of water each day. Dehydration can drain your energy and decrease your ability to think clearly.
5. Be mindful. Increase your focus by taking the time to be more aware of your surroundings. Learn to use all of your senses as you experience and interact with your environment including people, places, and objects. Looking at things with a different perspective boosts your creativity and focus.
6. Meditate. Meditating increases your ability to concentrate. The more you practice focusing, the easier it becomes. Meditation can help you learn how to relax which makes it easier to concentrate.
You don’t have to let interruptions and random thoughts break your concentration or prevent you from completing your work. Learning how to eliminate distractions and focus your attention will help you lower your stress and get more done.