I know, it sounds simple, yet people don’t drink enough water. But maintaining proper hydration is really important for improving mental focus.
preserving your phone close by Dings, pings, and notifications will instantly break your concentration. Take a page from author Jonathan Frantzen. In order to maximize his performance, he once admitted to isolating himself in his office without internet access while donning “earplugs, earmuffs, and a blindfold.” Although a bit excessive, the concept still stands. You must minimize distractions.
Obsessiveness is a significant one. I really recommend reading The Conflict of Craftsmanship by Steven Pressfield on this subject, as well as pretty much anything by Seth Godin. Making while simultaneously attempting to edit and refine doesn’t work. You must let go of the need to improve everything.
Lack of rituals and routines — Rituals and routines can greatly increase your productivity. Contrarily, failing to plan your day is like — well, you know how that adage goes. “He/she who doesn’t plan…” etc.
No, we’re not advocating that you seclude yourself. But there’s a good reason why people like Carl Jung, Warren Buffet, and Charles Dickens were known for restricting their social activities.
Overwhelmed by objectives? Try Monotask! The best chance for your brain to perform what it does best — solve problems and accomplish tasks — is when you concentrate on one thing at a time.
Poor diet — Yes, we also enjoy our doughnuts, but when it comes to concentration, sugar is not your friend. Concentration and productivity are not aided by insulin spikes and energy slumps. When it comes to mental energy, though, intermittent fasting and low-GI foods will make you similar to the Duracell bunny in the commercials.
8 . Poor sleep: This is a good time to recall point 2. It is a given that staring at electronics and displays into the small hours will mess with your biorhythms and disrupt your sleep. Even though it’s always tempting, your brain will despise you in the morning if you go through WhatsApp one final time.
Comparison: This one is a little in-depth. However, spending time observing how others perform tasks better than you is the height of self-destructiveness. Everyone must begin somewhere. Everything is challenging before it is simple. Comparing yourself to others is a foolish endeavor that will divert your attention from what it should be devoted to: you and your objectives.
Controlling your emotional triggers is the key to overcoming procrastination. You’re working on something that seems chaotic or difficult. This makes me feel overpowered. To get out of the discomfort, you go do something enjoyable or distracting. The cycle keeps going. Start small to create momentum and break the loop. After five minutes of work, reward yourself with something (not doughnuts though, see point 7).
I did focus for too long. You need regular breaks for your brain. Take a stroll, observe nature, practice meditation, anything. It has been demonstrated that taking a break from the activity helps to keep your focus and mental acuity sharp.
Unexpected: Not enjoying the ride? This is a highly overlooked topic, in my opinion. Finding the fun in the journey you’re on or the objective you’re chasing will go a long way toward assisting you in staying on task.