Hacks To Improve Focus At Work

In today’s noisy and chaotic world, it is almost impossible to stay focused on one task without being side-tracked. Fortunately for the people who find it difficult to concentrate on a single job, the focus is not a God-given trait.

It is not something you’re born with, but more of a skill that you can hone by working on yourself. But how would you do that? Well, it’s easier than it sounds. All you need to do is add a few habits to your daily routine and follow them consistently. Before you know it, you’ll be much more focused and productive at work.

Let’s take a quick peek at the habits that we can inculcate in our lifestyle for improving our focus:

Exercising daily

Now, we know that most people might find it difficult to squeeze in time for the workout. However, we are not referring to a full-blown, three-hour-long strength training session. All you need to do is to get your blood flowing for 20 minutes a day; it will give you just that extra boost you need to start your day with a bang!

Researches have proven that exercising increases memory capacity and overall concentration. Therefore, along with keeping you fit, fresh, and healthy, exercising can also sharpen your brain.

Getting adequate sleep

An adequate amount of sleep is integral to our mental as well as physical well-being. Just a good night’s sleep can make you feel refreshed and energized the next morning.

To improve your focus and concentration skills, you should try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Also, practice to avoid looking at screens like your smartphone or laptop for one hour just before going to bed each night. It is proven that looking at screens just before bedtime can affect your sleep adversely, which is not healthy for your sleep schedule.

Setting achievable goals daily

Working on long-term goals is great, but at times, it might make you irritable and frustrated. Therefore, to increase your focus and productivity, you should set several small and achievable goals for yourself. When you start your day, always make a small to-do list that includes simple and manageable tasks. Each time you complete one of these goals, your brain will release dopamine, which will keep you motivated throughout the day.

All you need for this is a pen and paper. In fact, you can even make the list on an app on your smartphone. However, looking at your phone to tick off your tasks all day might be distracting, which is why we would recommend you to go with classic pen and paper. You can also maintain a small pad or notebook to keep track of all your little achievements.

Eliminating all distractions

Eliminating distractions from your workspace might be the most effective tactic to improve your focus and concentration. Your smartphone, especially the social media apps present in it, can often side-track you from your original task.

To avoid that from happening, you should mute all the notifications from these apps on your phone as well as your laptop. Additionally, you can also strictly inform all of your co-workers and friends that you should not be disturbed during this time period.

Taking mental breaks

Contrary to popular belief, taking short breaks once in a while can actually boost your focus and productivity. According to a recent study, our brain works in a 90-minute cycle. Every 90 minutes you spend working efficiently is followed by 20 minutes of lower frequency brain activity, also called “brain fog”, when you have a harder time concentrating. Harness this 90-minute cycle by taking a break of about 20 minutes after every 90 minutes.

However, always remember that staying away from screens during these breaks is even more beneficial. You should go for healthier break choices, such as stretching or going for a walk in the park.

Making your own deadlines and stick to them

All of us know that the deadlines given by our superiors can be very stressful. However, a deadline is a very efficient method to prevent procrastination. So, how can deadlines help you instead of stressing you out?

You can create your own deadlines for yourself, which you think are achievable and reasonable. It will help you achieve all of your daily goals with accurate time management and will also make you quit procrastination.