(2 minute read)
Have you ever found yourself daydreaming during your working day, or maybe losing track of what you were doing prior to an interruption?
If so, you’re not alone, and may be experiencing what is light-heartedly referred to as B.S.O.S. (Bright Shiny Object Syndrome).
Remaining on-task can be difficult, and particularly challenging if you are surrounded by – and susceptible to – constant distractions.
Establishing and maintaining mental focus is essential for success. The ability to concentrate on something in your environment and direct the necessary attention toward it is critical for learning, achieving goals, and completing required tasks.
Whether you are trying to complete a monthly report at work or engaging in meaningful dialogue with a friend or colleague, your ability to focus can mean the difference between success and failure.
Try these 5 tips to improve your focus.
- Anticipate, and minimise or eliminate distractions. Identify the distractions or interruptions which can impact your workflow and aim to decrease or eradicate them.
- Stop trying to multi-task. Diluting your focus and sharing it amongst multiple tasks or people will do none of them the justice they deserve.
- Be present and in the moment. Catch yourself out when thinking too far ahead or reflecting on the past unnecessarily.
- Know your limits. Most of us have a sweet-spot of attention, maybe it’s 30, 45, or 75-minutes. Learn this and work within it for your best results.
- Schedule breaks or downtime. Whether it be the traditional Aussie tradesman’s ‘Smoko’ break, or some ‘blue-sky’ time, use breaks between high-focus tasks to recharge your batteries.
Like any competence worth developing, building your mental focus will take time. As you further develop your ‘mental focus muscle’, you should find that you can accomplish more and concentrate on things with greater intensity and clarity.