Do you have trouble focusing on a task at hand, even though those around you seem to be able to do so for a long time? If your answer is “yes,” Don’t worry! You are not the only one.
But why is this so? Why can some people keep their minds on a task while others can’t seem to get theirs to stop wandering? However, some individuals’ personalities make it harder for them to maintain focus, and many other factors could contribute to your inability to maintain concentration.
Most workers are dealing with burnout in one way or another. Less than three hours of an 8-hour workday are productive for the average worker.
You probably have difficulty staying focused on your work throughout the day, whether you work in an office or from home. You could be able to get a lot done in the morning but then hit a wall around lunchtime and start playing around on your phone instead of getting back to work.
Even if you desire to work nonstop, you can’t seem to keep your thoughts on a single thing. This might be frustrating and cost you a great deal of money you could have earned.
In this blog post, I will:
- Talk about five valuable tips that will help you focus better at work.
- Provide instantaneous focusing methods.
5 Tips & Tricks To Stay Focused at Work
The modern era has introduced an infinite number of diversions into the workplace. It appears to be an ongoing challenge for many individuals to maintain focus and motivation at work. But in today’s environment, where an infinite number of distractions are just a click or swipe away on a smartphone, it is more difficult than ever to remain focused at work.
However, even in today’s distraction-filled society, there are techniques to significantly enhance focus, productivity, and motivation.
Follow these five helpful tips to become more focused and productive at work:
1. Limit online interruptions
Internet access, when used properly, can be a very useful tool for business.
The internet may be a wealth of information and resources, or it can be a bottomless pit of diversions that eats away at your time by the minute.
Many people can’t just turn off their Wi-Fi since they need to spend a significant portion of their day working online as part of their profession. However, when possible, disconnecting from distractions and concentrating on a single job can yield enormous benefits.
Simply turning off your notifications and closing your windows for a while every day can have a significant impact on your productivity and focus.
Using add-ons that block social networking and other time-wasting sites is helpful if going offline isn’t feasible.
2. Schedule meetings.
Meetings and conferences are important parts of many professionals’ workdays. You know how big of a distraction meetings can be if you’ve been in the middle of a project when a meeting came up, and you had to stop what you were doing.
Since meetings tend to disrupt concentration and development, scheduling all of your meetings at a specific time rather than allowing them to occur at random intervals throughout the day is preferable.
3. Schedule Daily Focus Hours
It takes a long time to get used to putting all your attention and energy into one task.
Most of the time, you won’t be able to do your best work on a task until you can sit down and work on it for a long time.
This means that even a single interruption can compel you to restart the process of concentrating focused on a task and establishing your most productive rhythm.
In the same way that meetings can disrupt focus, anything that distracts you from your work, even for a short time, can negatively affect your productivity.
Scheduling daily focus hours during which you isolate yourself from all distractions and concentrate on a single critical activity can be an effective method for ensuring that you can get into the flow of your work and achieve uninterrupted results.
4. Set Task Deadlines.
There are few things more motivating than a deadline, even if the one you set for yourself; limiting how long it should take you to accomplish the activity may give you a sense of urgency and give the task a feeling of importance.
5. Take short breaks
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, taking a break from your job can help you concentrate and get more done, just as a meeting or other interruptions can.
Short breaks from work, when correctly organized, can provide a mental refreshment that allows you to reset your attention and return to the activity with a renewed sense of purpose.
Few people can work continuously for eight hours and be expected to perform their finest work the entire time. You may force yourself to work without breaks, but doing so frequently causes more harm than good.
Instead of focusing on a task for so long that your mind gets bored or tired, take frequent pauses throughout the day to re-energize and reset your focus.
These breaks can be as easy as a quick walk outdoors for a breath of fresh air or a water cooler trip to the water cooler, as just a few minutes away from work are often sufficient to reset the mind.
Techniques for quick attention boosts
It is possible that, as you read this blog post, you might think that the tips above can help you focus, but the process takes time.
If you’ve come here because you need to know what to do when you’re distracted, and you need to be able to focus right this second, I can also provide some brain hacks that will help you concentrate in a matter of minutes.
Remember that these may not work for everyone, but given how little time they require, you can give them a shot.
#1 Focus Hack: Use the 5-second rule
The technique, introduced in Mel Robbins’ book, is as easy as it seems.
If you need to start a task but are having trouble getting started, try counting down from 5; as soon as you hit 0, start working.
Who knows? The first push is all you need to get things going.
#2 Focus Hack: Use 4-7-8 breathing method
Dr. Andrew Weil made this technique, and it is based on a yoga practice called pranayama, which is about controlling your breathing. Evidence suggests it does more than just soothe the nerves; it also helps you focus better.
Here’s how to practice:
- Exhale completely through your mouth, making an “ocean” sound (By gently constricting your throat)
- Inhale for four seconds through the nose.
- Hold your breath for seven seconds.
- Make the “ocean” sound with your breath for 8 seconds.
- Repetition is the key.
#3 Focus Hack: Do some jumping jacks.
Aerobic exercise, even for just two minutes, has improved cognitive performance for up to two hours. Exercise brings oxygenated blood to the brain, revitalizing it for more work.
If you’re having trouble focusing on that chore you’ve been avoiding, you might want to put it off for a minute or two, stand up, and do some jumping jacks.
#4 Focus Hack: for concentrating: Get the job done, and your brain will follow.
Can’t focus? No problem!
Your attention may be slipping, but your body will not. If you’re putting off a chore because you can’t concentrate, you should follow Nike’s advice and “just do it.”
This advice may upset you; if you could do it easily, you would already be doing it.
However, the idea is that you don’t have to be perfect at it at first.
For instance, if you’re attempting to create an article, but your mind is blank, open your document and begin writing anything, even if it’s total gibberish. Your mind will soon catch up with your fingers, and before you realize it, you will be focused and prepared to perform the real work.
Parting Thoughts!
Improving focus will not only help you do more work, but it will also benefit you in other areas of your life. It can be difficult sometimes, but it’s never impossible to follow the right focus techniques. Regain charge of your life and stop letting hours pass you by in vain. It may take some time to implement all these techniques, but once you do, you will be amazed at how much more you accomplish each day.
We’d love to know What you do to stay focused at work. Let us know in the comments below!
