Whether you have a short attention span or disciplined attention to detail, staying fully focused during the workday can seem impossible. In positions that require repetition and demand detail-oriented precision, this can be a major problem, but it’s no less true for people whose daily duties vary widely. Our minds wander, our personal lives and commitments to family and friends creep in. Also, human brains weren’t designed for focusing on computer screens all day.
While maintaining attentiveness at work is a universal problem, luckily, there are some simple solutions that will help you stay sharp not only while you’re on the clock but before and after work as well.
Feed Your Body and Mind
When it comes to physical upkeep, you get back what you put in. If, for example, you exist on a diet of fast food and sugary snacks, you will find it difficult to stay at a healthy weight. On the other hand, if you eat a balanced diet and stay reasonably active, your body should work better. What far too few people understand is that the same is true for your mind.
If you take care of your body with healthy foods, plenty of water, and health-boosting supplements, you’ll likely see chlorella benefits like improved skin and digestive function. You may also find yourself less fatigued and more energetic, which could assist your focus.
Without getting too deep into the biology involved, the simple fact of the matter is that it’s difficult to think straight if your body doesn’t feel good. One of the biggest culprits of this is dehydration. Without the daily recommended intake of water or more, our bodily functions suffer across the board. It’s also critical to avoid the temptation to save time and skip breakfast. A simple high-protein meal, some vitamins and supplements, and a few glasses of water first thing in the morning will get you off to a great start. A cup or two of coffee is generally fine for most people; just remember that caffeine’s short-term effects are usually canceled out with dehydration or a post-caffeine crash if you have too much.
Stay Organized
Moving from the biological to the psychological, you should never underestimate how much organization helps with both focus and overall success. Organizational tools like to-do lists, reminders, and apps that help you track your tasks and schedule can help you create a game plan each day. Without them, you may be flying blind and become more easily distracted.
For many people, the simple act of writing down (or typing in) an assigned task or duty will reinforce its place in the hierarchy of your responsibilities. In other words, it will be harder for you to simply forget to do it. Beyond that, having a to-do list will help you prioritize as new, sometimes urgent, things pop up over the course of the day. A helpful approach is to make your list at the end of each day for the following one. You’ll still have it fresh in mind and won’t have to devote time to it first thing in the morning.
Take Breaks
Some people view taking breaks as counterproductive. While this devotion to work is commendable, brief rests are necessary to keep your brain on track throughout the workday. This is especially true if you work at a computer in an office setting. In addition to changing the physical stimuli your brain is taking in, it’s also important for your social and mental health. Most people need to see and interact with other people to stay healthy and happy. If you are stressed or depressed, your focus could be affected negatively, to say the least.
No matter what type of work you do, your ability to succeed is directly proportional to your ability to focus. Keeping a healthy diet with supplements and plenty of water, staying organized, and taking breaks throughout the day should help you stay alert, on-task, and productive!
