How to Rediscover Your Focus
We’ve all had one of those days where we just can’t seem to maintain focus, no matter how hard we try. This can be attributed to a lot of things such as distractions, anxiety, other matters that need your attention, or just plain old lack of motivation. And here’s the kicker: the harder you try and force yourself to refocus, the less likely you’ll find yourself coming closer to your goal.
So how can you overcome this conundrum? Below are a few things you can try to get yourself back on track:
Brain Exercises
It might sound moot to work your brain some more when you feel your mental faculties are too tired to begin with. But if you are able to stimulate your mind to focus on something that you’re actually having fun doing, then that’s a start. This can be a simple word search, crossword puzzle, matching games, or anything that will pique your brain. Doing this will give your mind the break it needs while actually keeping it constantly working. Consider this “happy stress.”
Work on Your Sleeping Routine
Perhaps the reason you’re losing focus is because your mind is literally tired – much like the rest of your body. When you’re sleep deprived or lack restorative sleep, your brain will work twice as hard as it needs. The bad news is, without proper rest, the brain will eventually suffer impaired memory, poor cognitive function, and irritability. This will cause you more frustration than allow you to be productive. Even busy adults need to be well-rested regardless of the activities they have each day. The target is still a healthy 7-8 hours of sleep. And if you’re having trouble getting the rest you need, perhaps you need to consider the following:
Try to maintain a sleeping schedule – this might be difficult to do if your work schedule is not as consistent than most. But do at least try to go to bed around the same time each night. This will help create a routine for you that your body will eventually understand and automatically submit to sleeping.
Avoid electronics before bed – sure it’s fun and seemingly harmless to browse social media, watch tv or a few videos, or read online before you go to sleep. But what most people know is that instead of helping your brain wind down to end the day, screens can actually end up stimulating your mind and keep it awake. This will be quite counterproductive.
Get yourself conditioned for bed – this means you should know what makes you feel the most relaxed. Perhaps a warm shower or bath, soft music, meditation, dimmed lights, warm milk or tea, or maybe half an hour of silent reading will do the trick. Do this about half an hour before your intended bedtime. Do not skimp out on the before bed ritual, this helps train your mind that it’s getting ready to rest for the day. Plopping in bed barely getting changed from your day clothes is also a bad idea. It will not let your body relax fully, and instead of getting restorative rest, you’ll get some disruption in your sleep because you’re subconsciously uncomfortable.
Get up at the same time each day – this might be the most difficult of all. At first, you’ll end up waking up either too early or end up oversleeping. But as time passes, you’ll find yourself getting better at the routine. And make sure that you stick with it. If you think you’ll need more than one alarm clock, do it. And position it as far away from your bed as possible so you don’t get tempted to put it in snooze and head back to bed.
Hydrate ALWAYS
This is just as important even if you’re not physically exerting yourself throughout the day. The idea of having at least 8 glasses of water each day applies to everyone, even if you’re just sitting in your chair in front of your computer. Actually, you need to hydrate just as much because your brain is working hard all day. And constantly drinking water will help your mind “wake up” from the haze it’s likely about to enter after a couple of hours of tedious work.
Change Your Home Office Furniture
A simple switch from your plain table and chair to a smart ergonomic computer chair and an ergonomic adjustable table can make all the difference in your life. These are especially designed to alleviate your body from unnecessary stress that can cause you pain and discomfort the longer you stay in a single place. The great thing about these tables and chairs is that it can offer you a wide array of benefits that no other piece of furniture (maybe apart from your bed) can provide. This can allow you to work effortlessly and even gain more focus as you do your tasks. It can lift your spirits as you continue without worrying about developing pain in your neck, shoulders, lower back, legs, and feet. It can also save you from the possibility of developing diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, muscular and skeletal conditions, and even depression.
Another great ergonomic piece you can add is an antifatigue mat that you can use when you need to stand for a while. It’s designed to ease the pressure off your legs and feet so you can last longer as you do your work.
Apart from the aforementioned tips, another important thing to remember is probably to try to not overthink too much. When we’re sitting for long periods, we tend to be overwhelmed with all the tasks ahead of us—and even start thinking about the ones we don’t even need to do yet. And when we let that cloud overcome us all at once, say goodbye to productivity and your ability to focus. Figure out a way to keep yourself grounded and take a break every once in a while. This will help your mind and body detach from the monotony and recharge for a bit so you can get back on track.
