How to improve your ability to focus better
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If there is a skill that gives you an advantage and puts you ahead in our fast-paced world, it is the ability to be able to focus intensely on whatever job or task you have at hand. Here is how to improve your ability to focus better.
It is so easy to get distracted by so much demanding our attention that completing simple tasks is more tedious than it used to be.
If you are reading this post this is probably an area that you struggle with or are looking to improve on, and if my deductions are correct, I’m glad you stumbled on my post. I hope that you find something insightful while reading this.
I want you to have a light-bulb moment because most of the things I will talk about are things you already know or have heard of.
Before we go trying to fix our focus problems, what does it mean to focus?
The Cambridge Dictionary defines focus as “ to give your full attention to what you are doing or to what is happening”. Emphasis on full attention.
So, whatever takes away from your full attention is a roadblock to your ability to focus better.
Now that we are on the same page regarding what we mean when we say “Focus”, here are ways you can focus better and accomplish a lot more.
1. Improving your quality of sleep
If you could only take one point from this post today, it is the importance of the quality of your sleep to your ability to focus better.
Sleep directly influences our cognitive function which refers to our mental abilities in regards to processing information, problem-solving abilities, reasoning, memory, etc.
Sleep deprivation diminishes our ability to function at an optimum level of cognition. We need this optimum level of cognition to perform our best tasks.
So, if you have a lot of work to do instead of sacrificing your sleep to get more work done, it is better to get more quality sleep because the hours you spend working after, although less will be more productive.
2. Have a routine
We usually find it easier to do things that we repeatedly do.
If you practice a routine of spending some hours in the day doing some focused work, it becomes a habit. You no longer have to push yourself as much or constantly need so much motivation to get your task done.
You can start for as little as an hour a day. Give yourself a specific time in the day when you are quite free. Choose a task to immerse yourself in for that hour and set a timer. Until the timer goes off, you don’t leave what you are doing.
This timer tip has helped me to be a lot more focused in getting things done and I don’t struggle to sit down and concentrate on my tasks as I used to.
3. Minimize your distractions
I totally understand how easy it is to get really distracted in this age of technology and lots of entertainment being pushed out in record numbers.
You have to literally fight to discipline yourself and sometimes people just give in to their vices.
One of the painful aspects of living a distracted life is that when you realize it, you are usually far gone, and reversing the outcome with take some work.
But it is possible, with a little bit of deliberate effort every day, you can start living a more intentional life again.
4. Keep your space tidy
Now that you are older and don’t have your Mum following you around to clean up your room and tidy up your space. You are going to have to be your own parent and nag yourself to keep your space tidy.
A tidy space has more benefits than the mere aesthetics of a clean space.
The condition of our environment also affects our ability to concentrate. If your space is untidy you will find it difficult to concentrate without even knowing sometimes that that is what is causing your inability to focus.
5. Optimize your workspace
If you do not have a dedicated work area, you should make an effort to create one and optimize it in a way that will help you be more productive.
Keep the space minimal with minimum distractions, the right lighting, and the right furniture, gadgets, and accessories that will improve your ability to sit and focus deeply on your task.
You might like this post on How to organize your desk for maximum productivity.
6. Practice the Pomodoro technique
The Pomodoro technique is a productivity practice where you focus on concentrating on your task for 25 minutes and then taking a break for 5 minutes and then working like that for about 2 hours and then taking a longer break like 30 minutes after that 2 hours.
This method of working on your task is usually employed when you have to work for long periods on tasks that require all your attention like studying for instance.
It is supposed to eliminate the concentration slope whereby the longer you try to concentrate nonstop on a task, your concentration and memory diminish.
Some people find they can focus for longer than 25 minutes and prefer to do the 50/10 Pomodoro instead where they work for 50 minutes and then take a 10 minutes break.
7. Exercise
Make a conscious effort to add exercise to your lifestyle.
Moving your body improves your blood flow, and releases endorphins which are happy hormones that will give us a more positive outlook on our day and all the tasks we have to do for the day.
It doesn’t have to be something intense, it can be something as simple as taking a 30-minute walk in the park or around your block.
8. Improve your nutrition
Eat meals that are more nutritious and promote a healthy body.
We know that if we don’t eat healthy meals it can lead to a whole lot of illnesses but don’t realize that food can have that same effect on our cognitive functions.
Incorporate brain foods in your diet, usually fruits and vegetables that are nutrient-dense and filled with antioxidants.
Eating foods that specifically nourish your brain will make a great deal of difference in your ability to focus.
9. Prioritize self-care
Incorporate self-care activities from time to time to make sure you are rested and recuperated from your daily work and responsibilities.
It can be 30 minutes of dedicated me-time with activities as simple as taking a bath.
Self-care is one of those things that is super easy to overlook if we don’t prioritize it. And before you know it we feel as though we are running on fumes with nothing but work taking over our time and energy.
10. Practice being in a flow state when you work
Have you ever had moments where you were doing something that you thoroughly enjoyed and you didn’t take any breaks and hours just seem to go by like minutes?
This is what is described as a Flow state in simple terms.
The flow state, a term coined by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi refers to a state of complete absorption in a task, this means that you have intense focus and deeply enjoy what it is that you are doing.
Everyone has experienced the flow state at one point but you probably didn’t realize that that is what it was.
In the flow state, you are at the highest point of your performance. Your concentration is at its peak and it takes much lesser time to do what would normally take you much longer to do.
For you to enter into a flow state though all the stars have to align:
- You have to have a well-rested and adequately nourished body
- Be in an environment with no distractions
- Thoroughly enjoy the activity you are doing. If it is studying, you need to enjoy the topic you are studying
- That you trust your abilities to tackle the task ahead of you.
To be able to enter the flow state on cue whenever you need to get work done, requires a lot of practice.
You have to manipulate the situation at hand to meet the requirements for the flow state that we mentioned above.
So, if you are embarking on a task that you don’t like, you will have to find a way to make it more enjoyable and the trust in your abilities only come with time.
Ready to be a more focused person?
There you have it! You made it to the end of this post on how to improve your ability to focus better.
I hope you learned something new reading this and also got a little reminder of the regular things that affect our ability to focus that we take for granted.
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