Your work projects are multiplying, and there do not seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done. Family and life, in general, are also making demands. And yet you find yourself scrolling through Facebook or going down a Tiktok rabbit hole.
How can you stay focused on the tasks at hand?
It’s hard to stay focused amid all of the distractions we face every day. However, there are a few ways you can increase your concentration and efficiency. Here are seven ways to improve your focus and get things done.
7 Tips To Regain Your Focus And Get Things Done
1. Start Small
If you decide to write the great American novel, chances are you are still starting at a blank screen. If your goal is to launch the next Amazon, you may have no idea where to even begin.
While it is good to have strong aspirations, when it comes to concrete goals, sometimes it is better to start small. Try to articulate your objectives in realistic, attainable terms. By setting achievable goals, you will have a clearer vision of your direction and what you need to do next.
2. Manageable Steps
Along with starting small, it’s helpful to break down your tasks into manageable steps. You can’t jump from A to Z! You need to make your way from one point to the next.
If your goal is to grow your sales in the next year, break down your strategy for accomplishing that. How much would you have to sell to exceed last year? How many more people would you have to hire?
You will often realize that in order to get from one step to the next, you may have to overcome obstacles. You may have to pursue a different path. However, if you keep progressing forward one step at a time, you will be better able to stay focused in the long run.
Without a clear road map, it is too easy to get sidetracked or give up.
3. Make A List
One great way to regain your focus is to make a list. The simple act of writing your priorities down and then checking them off can do wonders for keeping your eye on the prize.
For those who prefer a more high tech approach, there are numerous innovations that improve upon the old fashioned “To Do” list. There are apps and project management software systems that provide many answers to the question of how to increase focus.
These tools can help not only you to maintain focus but keep entire teams focused on the tasks at hand. They can delegate different aspects of the job to appropriate people and keep everyone apprised of each other’s progress.
Whether you aim to increase your focus on your professional or personal responsibilities, laying everything out in an orderly manner is a tried and true way to maintain your concentration and productivity.
4. Take A Break
Sometimes it feels like your brain is just too full! Some days you may find yourself easily distracted or unable to proceed.
Take a break! Studies show that sometimes you just need to walk away.
Go get coffee with a friend. Talk a walk in the fresh air. Just because you have been at your desk for hours does not mean you are getting anything done!
If you take a lunch break, you are far more likely to come back to your office with refreshed focus and renewed energy. That time away from the challenge may open your mind to a new way to break the log jam!
If you work from home, then take a nap or a jog around the park. Get away from your computer and take your mind and body somewhere else.
5. Eliminate Distractions
Working from home has shown the work world how many distractions can arise during the day. Crying babies, barking dogs, ringing doorbells, and neighborhood leaf blowers have all made themselves heard on Zoom calls.
If you are working from home, create a separate space for work from where you live and play. This way, you can leave when you need to.
Inform your family that you are at work, even if you are right down the hall. They will have to open their bottle of juice all by themselves.
Office workspaces can be distracting, too. You may need to move from your cubicle to a conference room when faced with a big project to get away from your chatty colleague. Turn off the phone and even your email.
6. Talk With Someone
When your brain is spinning in loops, sometimes you need a new perspective. Is there a colleague or friend you can talk it over with? Often by hashing it out with someone else, you can see your challenge from a whole new vantage point.
If your team is facing a problem, try getting them all together to brainstorm. Let the creativity flow! By opening up a healthy dialogue and collaboration, you can generate new ideas, and the answer will reveal itself!
You also strengthen your team by confiding about your mental blocks and distractions.
Sometimes you need to speak with an outsider who sees the situation with new eyes. Sometimes you need to just talk about something else! So call up an old friend and reminisce or tell your partner you love them.
7. Healthy Habits
Some of the best ways to nurture your focus are by adopting healthy habits. For example, losing sleep by working night after night is not likely to make you more productive and will actually hinder your ability to get things done.
Give yourself eight hours of sleep per night. Turn off your phone and computer and keep them out of the bedroom.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and stay away from processed snack foods. Stop consuming caffeine after mid-day. Cut down on alcohol.
By maintaining a healthy body, you will find your thinking process becomes much clearer.
How To Get Things Done When Your Brain Is Fried?
Whether you are overworked, stressed, or distracted by family or the state of the world, you can make certain lifestyle changes to get better things done. Try some of these simple methods for keeping your mind sharp, and your concentration focused.
For more tips to live your best life, keep checking back.
