We’ve probably all experienced one of those days where we can do just about anything except focus. Maybe it’s from fatigue, stress, or that one co-worker that just won’t stop distracting you; no matter what the issue seems to be, we have a number of tips that should help you focus even on your worst days. Let’s get started!
(image via: type talk)
Eliminate All Distractions
You can do this a number of ways because what one person finds distracting, another person may find comforting or relaxing. We recommend finding a quiet spot, turning off all phone notifications, closing out of computer apps that aren’t relevant, and of course, letting people know you’re in your space working and that you don’t need extra distractions. (That last one can be a hard one.)
Make a To-Do List
Making a list of everything that needs to be done is a great way to see everything and visually prioritize tasks.
Easy on the Caffeine
It might be tempting to keep going back over to the coffee maker at work to get more and more, because coffee is amazing, and we get it, but too much caffeine has been proven to affect our focus poorly.
Take a Five
Sometimes the best thing you can do is walk away and take a break when you’re feeling like you can’t focus, so never underestimate the power of a couple of breaks throughout your day. Get up, walk around, drink some water, stretch your body, then get right back into it.
Block Social Media
We can always tell we’re about to have a particularly hard-to-focus day when we find ourselves constantly checking social media. If you start to notice that every five minutes you’re opening a new app, swiping for a few seconds, closing that app, then opening another, we recommend simply locking your social media.
Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep
Oftentimes lack of sleep is the number one reason we can’t focus throughout the day, so if you’re having a hard time focusing, consider your sleeping schedule. We just bet you can squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep, especially if it means your day will be more productive.
Practice Being More Mindful
This may be one of those things that’s easier said than done, but if you find your mind drifting, stop for a second, and start to think about what you need to focus on in that moment. The cool thing about practicing mindfulness is that each time you do this, you’re actually training your brain to do this naturally.