Ways to Enhance Your Concentration

By Guest Blogger, Diana S.

Ways to Enhance Your Concentration

 

You have a deadline and you really need to work, but the busy Sydney streets are screaming at you from outside your window, you can’t get that scene from your favorite TV show out of your head and then, just when you clear your mind and finally focus on your assignment, somebody comes in with a question. There goes your concentration, leaving you frustrated and in panic. But, is there a way to enhance your concentration? Yes, there is. Here are some ways to do it.

Be rested

If you don’t get enough sleep, or if your sleep isn’t calming and restful, your thoughts can become scattered and focusing on anything might prove to be next to impossible. Establish a quality sleeping routine, which will include going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, sleeping on a comfortable bed and in a place that you find relaxing. If you don’t sleep enough during the night, try having at least a short nap during the day, in order to energize and concentrate more easily.

Eat well

Never skip meals, especially breakfast, since hunger can be your concentration’s greatest enemy. Your meals should be a healthy balance between proteins and carbohydrates, loaded with nutrients. Your body needs vitamins and minerals to maximize brain function, as well as water to remain hydrated, since dehydration can lower your concentration. However, overeating can cause discomfort and drowsiness, so avoid eating too much.

Take breaks

Trying to stay focused on one thing for a long time can be tiring and can even make you nervous. After a while, your brain’s processing abilities will decline, and your concentration along with it. Therefore, make a schedule for each task or each working day, one which will include several breaks. Taking an hourly short break can help you get your focus back and make you feel refreshed and alert. Use these breaks to have a healthy snack, take a nap or phone your friend for a quick chat.

Listen to music

Other than making you feel relaxed and boosting your mood, music can also improve your concentration. Certain types of music affect the parts of the brain related to paying attention and memory update, while others calm you down and help with anxiety. Find the music that makes you productive and helps you concentrate, invest in the best noise-cancelling headphones Sydney can offer and get back to work.

Exercise your body and mind

Physical exercise can get you into shape and improve your overall health, including your mind. If you’re unhealthy and physically inactive, you mood worsens and you feel worn down, which can make it very hard to focus. A daily workout can help you concentrate since it improves your circulation, and blood flow to the brain. It can be something as simple as a walk on the beach or a bicycle ride to and from work. And if physical exercise isn’t enough, you can also exercise your mind. Read a good book, do some crossword puzzles or Sudoku, or have a stimulating conversation during your lunch break to improve memory and concentration.

Remove distractions

Sometimes the loss of concentration is caused by outside factors, such as noise from the traffic outside or your colleagues’ squeaky voice and laughter. If you have your own office, closing the window or the door might be all it takes to regain your peace and quiet and avoid distractions. If not, try isolating yourself in another way, like using earplugs. Log out of your social networks accounts and turn your phone to silent mode if possible. However, if you need your phone and the social networks for work, you need to learn to ignore these specific distractions, disregard them and stay focused on your task.

Avoid multitasking

Jumping to a new project without finishing the previous one can be confusing and lead your brain to think it’s OK to switch focus from one topic to another, which in return can lower your concentration. If you start doing several things at the same time, you’ll be giving each of those things only partial attention, which can cause you to achieve less and make mistakes you wouldn’t make if you were completely focused on a single task. In order to improve your concentration, stick to a task until you finish it, and then make a short mental break before starting the next one.

Although it takes effort and time to concentrate properly, it’s not an impossible task. All it sometimes takes is to challenge your brain to stay focused on a single task for just a bit longer than the previous time. So, do what you can to stay healthy and sharp and your problem might just disappear.

 

 Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.