“Focus is the ability to maintain your attention on a single, immediate activity and direct your energy towards it”. However, with so many distractions found in today’s world, being able to focus can be difficult. We try to multitask to get to everything we need to do in a day, but does that work? Actually, it doesn’t. The brain doesn’t multitask. It task switches. So how do we get our focus back when we are overtired and have so much to do? Here are some tips you can use to improve your focus and concentration levels while at work.
1. Have a distraction-free workspace
You need to have a quiet environment in which you can feel motivated and focused. It’s very easy for you to be distracted by so many competing demands for your time. Remove the noise, by just focusing on one thing at a time. It will take far less time to complete your task and will be less draining as your brain is working more efficiently this way.
2. Take little breaks to allow your brain to rest
It’s important for you to take breaks often while sitting at work. Try setting your alarm for 20 minutes and doing a solid block of work, then take 2 minutes to look away from your computer and stretch your legs. Walk around a bit or take a social break. Just taking a pause allows your eyes to rest from your laptop or computer screen and allows the brain to unplug for a minute.
3. Define the top 5 things you need to focus
We will always have more work to do than we can get done in a day. Start by creating a goal of the high-priority items and choose 5. It’s hard to stay motivated if we constantly feel like we are leaving things unfinished. If you can prioritize the top 5 and get those done, it will light up the little reward centers in your brain that feel good when you complete a task. You’ll start to feel better and you complete the items on your list. The rest can wait till tomorrow.
4. Plan your work in advance
By planning ahead for the day, you will be able to get ahead of any distractions that might occur. As a result, you will be able to spend more time on the more important things that you need to accomplish and less time on unimportant tasks. By planning out your day in advance, you will also be able to get rid of your distractions and free up your mind so that you can concentrate better while at work.
These few steps can help reduce the amount of time and energy spent and streamline your focus. Here’s to a more productive and relaxed you!