Improve Your Mental Focus Part 3
Improve Your Mental Focus Part 3
Get Rid of Distractions
Eliminating distractions is a vital part of preparing your mind to be able to focus. Distractions in modern times are complicated and are a large part of the problem. Whether it’s the notifications on your phone or something in your office, it can be impossible to pay attention to the task at hand.
So what might be distracting you? To get rid of it, you have to identify what it is.
Physical Distractions
You can easily anticipate and plan for physical distractions in advance. Often it’s just a matter of having a consistent daily routine. Take the time to anticipate problems and solve them before they can affect your focus.
Hunger
Always realizing you are hungry when you are trying to get started? Don’t skip breakfast.
Even if you aren’t the type to start your day with a meal, you can plan ahead and keep an easy-to-grab snack in your work area. Eat before you try to get started.
Temperature
When you are too cold or too hot, it quickly becomes challenging to keep your brain focused on a computer screen. Ideally, you can control your environment’s temperature and find that sweet temperature spot before it’s time to get started. In reality, though, you might not have any control at all. You can still plan ahead.
Work in a chronically cold office environment? Keep a sweater or light jacket on hand to put on when you get a chill. Regularly feel way warmer than your co-workers? Keep a fan at your desk.
Noise
Noise is another environmental element you might not always be able to control. It could be phones ringing at another desk or annoying music coming through the shared wall. Some individuals are quite easily distracted by any sounds, while others can tune it all out at will.
If you already know this is a thing that distracts you, consider putting on a pair of noise-canceling headphones when you need to focus on something.
Digital Distractions
Modern life has already begun the process of reprogramming our brains to an always-connected state. For many people, digital distractions prove to be the number one issue. However, you can plan for these distractions as well.
Phones
Set your phone to “do not disturb” or turn the ringer off entirely. Put your phone away, out of sight altogether. Removing the phone not only prevents a potential caller from disturbing you as you try to focus, but it will also eliminate the temptation to look at smartphone app notifications as they appear on your screen.
Completely close your email program. Just as with your phone, your emails must be entirely out of sight before you can put them out of your mind. This might be an essential part of your to-do list. So set aside time specifically for emails, and feel free to ignore them while working on other things.
Social Media
Social media is intentionally designed to keep you returning, over and over. The platforms are using psychology to keep your engagement. Every single time you engage, your brain gets a mini dopamine rush. This leaves you always wanting more, making social media one of the biggest drains on your mental focus.
Check your social media platform of choice, and then sign out. Turn off app notifications for your social platforms if it is necessary. You might also want to consider developing the habit of not using any social media apps or websites for pre-set periods of your day.
Can’t get started without dealing with all of your online distractions first? Plan for that in advance also. Set a time limit to allow yourself to deal with each of those areas. Then set a timer. Allowing yourself time to “get it out of your system” will help keep your mind from dwelling on what you could be missing online.