Whether you are at high school, studying for a college degree, or even working or running your own business from home, it’s easier than ever to get distracted and find your focus getting lost in everything else that you have to do. Whether you’re regularly side-tracked by household chores that need to be completed or find yourself procrastinating on social media more often than you would like to admit, try these seven useful tips to make it easier for you to focus on the task at hand.
Block Problem Sites:
Technology can be a hindrance when it comes to focusing on work or study. On one hand, there are several apps and software programs that you can use to really enhance the study experience, help you stay organized, revise, and learn more. But on the flip side, social media, online games, and even news sites can easily become the biggest distractions when you’re trying to get stuff done. Thankfully, among the things to help you focus provided by technology, you can download apps that will block out sites like Facebook and Twitter – and any other sites and apps you find yourself on when you shouldn’t – to help you stay focused on what you’re doing.
Eliminate Distractions:
Whether you are studying or working from home, anything can easily become a distraction. If you often find yourself getting up from your work to do things like washing the dishes or fold the laundry, you’re not alone. The best way to combat this problem is to make sure that these distractions are out of the way before you start. If you know that you need to study or work, spend some time getting your household chores out of the way so that they don’t become a distraction later.
Play Some Music:
Music can have a significant impact on our emotions and feelings and the right tunes can become a great addition to your study space. Playing music that makes you feel uplifted and motivated can make it easier for you to focus. Spend some time putting together a playlist of tunes that help you stay on track and have them playing in the background next time you study.
Put Your Health First:
If you are not feeling your best, then focusing on the work that you have to do is never going to be easy. When you are tired, dehydrated, in pain, or struggling to see what you’re doing, it’s inevitably going to have an impact on your ability to focus. So, put yourself first. If you wear glasses for reading or using the computer, make sure that you can easily access them when you’re studying. Keep a bottle of water close by so that you can stay hydrated, and make sure that you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep at night so that you’ve got the energy you need.
Take Short Breaks:
You might feel like the most productive thing to do is just work or study flat out for as long as you can handle, but a few hours in, you might find yourself really struggling to focus. After a while, nothing you read is going to make sense and the chance of you retaining information is very slim. Not taking a break might sound productive on the surface, but it’s one of the worst approaches that you can take. Instead, make sure that you are breaking up your time studying or working with short breaks every hour or so to step away from the work, stretch your legs, and give your mind a short rest. You’ll find it much easier to stay focused when you return.
Exercise:
Getting enough physical activity in your routine isn’t just good for your physical health, strength, and your waistline – it will also improve your ability to stay focused when working or studying. Starting each day with some exercise, even if it’s just a short walk or some yoga, can make a huge difference to how you feel for the rest of the day and make it easier for you to concentrate. And, starting your day by getting active will make it easier for you to sleep at night, which can also have a positive impact on your focus abilities.
Set Small Goals:
Don’t get overwhelmed by setting yourself one massive goal to hit in weeks or months from now. Instead, make it easier for you to manage by setting small goals to accomplish each day or over a couple of days. For example, if you are studying, you could set a daily goal of reading a certain number of chapters in a book or writing so many words of an essay. Hitting small, regular goals is always easier to do and the sense of accomplishment you feel when you meet your goal will help to keep you going.
In a world that often seems full of distractions, it can be difficult to stay focused on work, study, or anything else that you need to do. Keep these tips in mind to help you stay focused for longer and get more done.
