Building better focus has become a much bigger challenge for many these days with limitless distractions, stress, and information, flying at us from various sources, 24/7. It therefore cannot be found in a step-by-step guide, but rather a process. One that is filled with starts, stops, leveling up, and many missteps along the way. In fact, improving your focus might just be one of the most challenging things you can try to do in the Twenty-First Century.
Below you will find a list of creative ways to work on improving your focus. But what you must remember throughout all the steps is to take inventory
consistently. Take note of your mental state, what is distracting you, and why. Taking the time to stop and take stock will give you feedback on what is and isn’t working for you, as well as how you are improving along the way.
1. Consider Your Attention
Throughout the day, stop and consider how much attention you are paying to the task at hand and how. Are you fully focused? Or are you only half working on a project while the other half of your brain is multi-tasking?
2. Consider Your Mood
Consider your mood throughout the day and why it may be that way. This should be paired with your attention to what you are doing. Are you anxious while you only half-think about the project at hand? Are you annoyed and typing an email?
3. Write Down Your Distractions & Look at Them
Every time you catch yourself being pulled away from the task at hand, write down the distraction and what you were doing, then get back to work. At the end of the day, look back on what distracted you and when. You may be able to pinpoint weak points in your day and find ways to remedy those distractions in the future.
4. Stop and Breath
Ever feel like you’re being pulled in ten different directions? Are the distractions flooding in at you and becoming overwhelming? Stop and breathe! Clear
your mind for a few moments, write it all down, and make a plan. While you may not be able to solve all the problems right away, at least you can do your best to
work through each one with a clear mind.
5. Visualize
You can use visualization at any time to clear your mind and focus on one thing. This will allow you to push away distractions and build your mind’s ability to concentrate for longer periods of time. You can visualize colors, images, or anything calming preferably, that you allow your mind to focus on.
Do remember that building better focus is not a race. It is a journey that takes time and patience. Make it a goal to consider incorporating creative, focus-building exercises into your daily routine.