Everyone has had instances where they were unable to concentrate and found their mind wandering to things that had nothing to do with the task at hand. When this happens, it kills productivity as you cannot complete what you want in the time you have available. Many factors can impact your ability to concentrate and your productivity, and you need to eliminate or rectify them before they become a bigger issue. In this article, we will look at some things you should do to stay focused and increase your concentration.
Get Enough Sleep
Research has proven that not getting enough high-quality sleep can cause reduced alertness, slow mental processes, and decreased concentration. When this happens, you are unable to focus, and tasks that require reasoning and logic can become difficult or impossible to complete. The inability to concentrate also leads to worse memory as you cannot retain things you were not fully present for.
Improve Your Diet
Your diet affects mental clarity, sharpness and how you feel. Not eating the right foods that provide your body and brain with the fuel they need can lead to a loss of focus and concentration, with many people who do not eat well during the day feeling lethargic towards the end of the day. Also, not providing the body and brain with the right nutrients can lead to cravings and hunger, which can be pretty distracting.
Prioritize Tasks
Your engagement with a task often depends on how important and rewarding you think it will be. Some tasks can take longer, which means they require a prolonged period of focus and concentration, while some require little time and less concentration.
Prioritizing tasks helps you get enough time to complete those that are important and engaging for you. You can also mix in some shorter tasks, as that will get you into a different mindset. Sometimes, switching tasks can be the reset your brain needs to concentrate and focus better on essential tasks.
Get Outside Help
Another great way of enhancing your focus and concentration is by using cognitive enhancers. These supplements include ingredients that boost memory, increase mental energy, improve brain performance, and ensure more mental focus and concentration. It is important to do your research to ensure the supplements you choose use proven ingredients, are effective, and do not cause any adverse effects.
Eliminate Distractions
Whether you work at home or in an office, you are likely bombarded with a lot of information throughout the day. All this information requires some level of processing, which takes you away from a task you must complete. Since it can take up to 15 minutes to get back to the mental state you had prior, receiving such information can lead to decreased productivity.
There are many ways to reduce distractions, including muting notifications and using noise-canceling headphones to reduce noise. If you work at home, consider converting a room into a private office where you can get things done without getting distracted.
Exercise More
Exercise relaxes the body and can leave you more energetic in the morning, which is when most people get most things done. Sufficient physical activity also eliminates tightness that contributes to low-level discomfort that can make it more difficult to concentrate.
Exercise also provides the brain with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to focus and concentrate on tasks more intently, improving productivity.
Meditate
While exercise will rejuvenate your body, meditation can be a powerful tool for your mind. Starting a day with morning meditation will make your mind clear and focused. It will also help you throughout the day when a strong mind will allow you to stay concentrated on what needs to be done rather than following distractions. If you are new to meditation, you might want to explore 42 days of self-development program; a step by step guide on how to meditate and pay attention to one’s daily habits.
Building your focus and concentration is something you have to work on consistently. You need to change your habits or adopt new ones to ensure improved focus and productivity. Some changes like sleeping better are easy to implement with some simple tips, but learning how to prioritize tasks or get into the habit of exercising regularly can take some time.
This is a collaborative post supporting our Peace In Peace Out initiative.
