Focus: Tips To Improve Concentration

Posted On July 11, 2021

Lack of focus happens to us all.

You are trying to concentrate and get something done, but your mind keeps wandering off onto other things, and you get distracted. Perhaps you are working on a school project, or maybe you are working from home, but you cannot seem to stay focused on the task at hand.

What can you do to improve your concentration and avoid failing that class or losing your job?

Why Can’t I Focus?

Much the same as the way your computer slows down with excessive use, your brain will slow down as well. This issue may occur naturally as you age, or a medical condition may cause it. Either way, you may notice that concentrating on a task becomes more difficult with time.

What can you do?

Harvard Has The Answers:

An article by Harvard Health suggests trying a brain exercise to help re-center your brain.

According to this article, carrying out a single-task activity like reading for 30 minutes can help you focus. You are supposed to set a timer to go off every 5 minutes, and when it does, ask yourself, “Has my mind wandered at all?” If the answer is yes, then continue to concentrate on the task for another 5 minutes.

The single-task activity is supposed to train your brain to monitor itself and prevent wandering. With time and practice, you will find that your focus improves.

Try it out!

Other Tips To Help You Focus:

Live a Healthier Lifestyle:

Lifestyle can have a significant impact on concentration and focus. Getting enough sleep, eating the right foods, and being active all affect your brain function. It has been found that exercise is critical to your ability to focus.  Exercise increases your brain’s ability to focus by increasing the availability of chemicals that promote new connections in the brain. These chemicals also reduce stress and improve sleep.

Sleep is also essential to our ability to maintain focus. Experts say that we should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night and strive to get at least 150 hours of exercise per week.

Practice Mindfulness:

Mindfulness involves focusing your attention on the current moment. Practicing mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress and helps to rewire the brain by promoting focus and concentration. One of the easiest ways to practice mindfulness is by sitting still for a few minutes each day, closing your eyes, and paying attention to your breathing. You can also pay attention to the sounds and sensations around you, but you can only focus on this moment right now. If you find your mind wandering to what you will be making for dinner or that to=do list that never seems to end, simply re-focus your thoughts onto your breathing once again.

Try Cognitive Training:

Cognitive Training, also known as brain training, Is a natural way to improve focus and thinking abilities. Cognitive Training has become extremely popular in recent years and can help to improve:

• Attention
• Problem Solving
• Reasoning
• Cognitive flexibility
• Working memory

The focus of Cognitive Training is to improve your mental function to better focus on the task at hand. There are a plethora of sites and books available that can teach you all about Cognitive Training. Check one out at the local library or purchase one online to get started.

Staying focused can be difficult, and many things can cause a lack of focus. Try to be mindful of this moment. Avoid stressing about what is to come if you want to improve your focus today.

Until Next Time,

Live in the Moment.