Having a laser like focus and concentration is not something that one can get everyday; but if you have been suffering from poor concentration or a lack of focus for longer than usual, then its time to step up to improve it. Having poor concentration affects a person in other areas of their life, such as work or school, and it could be due to a number of underlying factors such as stress, too much work, lack of sleep etc.
Here are just some of the ways how you can get back on track and start focusing on the important things in your life:
- Be present
Before you do anything to increase your concentration, you should first know what is important. For example, if you are sitting in a class and thinking about the errand you have to run later; then you are wasting precious time that you could be using to learn something new. Or if you are working on a project at work but keep thinking about how much work load you have ahead of you, it easy to lose focus. Just focus on one project at a time and the present. Make it a habit to think about what is there right in front of you and stay in the present.
- Take adequate rest
One reason many people tend to lose their concentration is because their bodies are not getting the required amount of rest. Staying up late at night and then waking up early for school or work on a regular basis will eventually take a toll on the mind and before you realize it, you will be napping away in class or drifting off during a presentation. Sleep is essential for the body as it regulates optimum functioning of the other organs and repairs cell damage. New neurons are created during sleep so if you are not getting enough of it, then chances are that your thought process will start getting affected.
- Take short breaks
If you feel like you can’t seem to focus, take a short break. It should be of 3-5 minutes. You can get some fresh air outside, practice breathing exercises, close your eyes and imagine something tranquil to ease your mind or listen to a favorite song to get you in the mood for work.
- Meditate
Practice meditation every day. You don’t have to take long breaks, it can be as little as 5-15 minutes every day. It helps to rid your mind of clutter and de-stresses you. Stress is one of the major reasons why people tend to lose their focus and concentration levels and meditation is the perfect way to reverse that.
- Remove distractions
Remove anything that may distract you from working efficiently such as the music or TV being on, or constantly checking your phone. If you have a noisy office, then get yourself noise cancelling headphones and put on a piece of music that can help you stay focused. Don’t have multiple tabs open in a browser or have non-work related tabs open. If you are at home, then choose to work when the kids are asleep or have gone to school.