10 Tips To Improve Your Focus

First things first: if you want to improve your focus, it's important to take care of your physical and mental health. Sleep well, eat right, and take time for yourself. That's the best way to prepare yourself for improving focus.

Let's face it: focusing on the small things in a busy work week can be difficult. To help improve your focus, you'll need to add some ritual to your daily routine. Here are 10 tips to improve your focus:

1. Wake up early

Having proper sleep habits is crucial for good health. Sleep deprivation will decrease cognitive abilities, and having a proper sleep routine can help you think more clearly. To have a more productive day, get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Try to wake up at least an hour before your significant other in order to maximize your focus during the day. This is one way to improve your focus in the morning.

2. Meditate

Meditation is a great way to get your mind off of work, and it helps you focus on the task at hand. I personally find Transcendental Meditation (TM) to be the most effective form of meditation for productivity. However, looking for an in-person instructor can be difficult - so if you're looking for a silent meditation technique, try Headspace. I've found that it's best to have a daily meditation practice, which means 30 minutes every morning.

3. Listen to podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to improve your focus - if only because they help me get work done! I listen to NPR on my commute, and sometimes I will tune into a specific topic for research. Other times I will listen to interviews with experts in the field of interest that could be useful for developing my own talking points or making presentations. Try to add some podcasts from experts in the field of your interest. Your brain will thank you for it.

4. Stay hydrated

In an age where everyone is dependent on coffee and soda, it is easy to forget about the benefits of water. Water is the best "energy drink" out there, and it's healthy for your body. Often times, people are dehydrated because they're constantly drinking coffee or sodas - but they don't actually get enough water. I personally drink a ton of water, and I feel my best when I'm hydrated.

5. Get a good night's sleep

If you want to improve your focus, you'll need to get the proper amount of sleep. Sleep deprivation can affect your cognitive abilities and make it harder for you to concentrate, which is why it's important to get enough z's. Get at least 7 hours of rest every night. I also find that when I wake up early, I am more productive in the morning - so if you find it difficult to wake up early, consider setting a bedtime earlier.

6. Take a break

No one is so perfect that they can work without taking a break. Getting up and walking outside for five minutes can help you reset and refocus - especially if you're feeling burnt out from work. Taking breaks every one to two hours are great for productivity, and it's important to meditate or do another task that helps you focus in order to make the most of your breaks.

7. Take advantage of sunshine

Yes, it's cold outside - but if you're feeling grumpy or not having the best day, head outside into the sunshine for a few minutes. Research has shown that people who switch to sunnier locations after experiencing a negative emotion experienced fewer negative emotions in their next encounter with that incident. Taking care of ourselves is important when we're feeling anxious or sad - so go outside and catch some rays.

8. Organize your work space

Depending on the environment you're in, it can be really difficult to focus because of noise, distractions, or interruptions. The best way to make sure you can focus is to create a personal workspace where you're less likely to get distracted. Find a desk that faces a wall and have some bookshelves handy so no one can disturb you while you're working.

It's also important not to over-clutter your desk - this will give the impression that you have a lot of work on your plate and will trigger feelings of stress. If the clutter on your desk is overwhelming, try setting aside one hour offsite per week where you clean off all electronics and get organized.

9. Explore ideas

In order to have focus, you need to have an idea about what you're aiming for. If your focus for the week is to improve in the workplace, create a list of five things that need to change. Then, make lists of things that you can do - and things that you can't do - while aiming toward your goals. Tracking all of these ideas will help you find the best ways to reach your goal and improve your focus.

10. Take care of yourself

In order to have focus, you have to be healthy. Eating right, sleeping well, and taking time for yourself are all important aspects of this. Treat yourself like you would a friend - give yourself some cookies when things aren't going great and call in sick sometimes. Remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It's also important to get into the habit of taking care of yourself if you want to improve your focus in the future.

Conclusion

Alright! We've covered a lot of ground in this article, so now let's try to summarize what has been learned. Having focus means being able to understand your goals and work towards them.

In order to be productive, you need to be able to focus on the things that are most important while shutting out distractions. To improve your focus, you can start with a few easy tips like: waking up early, meditating or listening to podcasts while working on something important, keeping yourself hydrated and even getting a good night's sleep. By following these tips every day, you'll notice an improvement in your productivity over time.