Og Mandino once said, “The important thing is that we must be constantly moving forward – yes, the progressive realization of a predetermined goal. And our growth should never end”. Growth should be perpetual, a lifestyle! In order to grow you need to be focused. Many people struggle with focus yet it is imperative for growth. I am reminded of something the late Bruce Lee said. He said, “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus”. This means focus is so important; you need it. Focus can be cultivated and it can be improved. Here are 7 ways you can employ to improve your focus:
Importance Of Setting Up A Routine
The human body is so easy to tame when you use a simple principle – repetition. A good example you can relate to is setting up an alarm to wake up. When you do that daily, your body ends up being accustomed to it. There will come a time when you will just wake up same time even without the alarm. This is because your body easily moulds into a routine.
Have you ever noticed something? Let us suppose you use a particular path to work every day. There will be times you might not be able to recount your steps. It is like you will be doing things without even thinking. That is how powerful building a routine does for you. With respect to important things you do daily, set up a routine and stick to it.
Consciously Set Up Your Environment
It is difficult to be focused in just any environment. At college or university, you will notice that the library environment is unique. In fact, when you step inside you literally shift into a different state. This is because the environment primes you to focus. For that example, the environment is set up for you. However, it matters more when it comes to your own spaces.
Plus it applies to anyone. You need to consciously set up your environment in such a way that enhances focus. Imagine working or doing something from your bed. Yes, some might manage but it can be hard to focus. Be deliberate about your environment. Set up an environment in which when you step into, being focused becomes inevitable.
Time Your Tasks With Breaks In Between
This is something I have mentioned several times before. It is mainly tied to the principle of deep work. Your deep work approach must be anchored on using what I can term time blocking. Time blocking is basically timing your tasks with breaks in between. This is where you set aside a number of fixed hours in your day where you work uninterrupted on your tasks.
During those hours you block off any possible distractions. Then you time your tasks and place breaks in between them. An example can be using the 60-10 rule. The 60-10 rule involves breaking down your tasks into 60-minute blocks of work, followed by 10-minute breaks. This is just a guideline but you can always tailor your own time blocks. This whole framework primes you to focus. This all should be complemented by getting enough sleep.
Jotting Down Your Tasks
There is a well-documented basis for why jotting down your tasks is important. Neuroscience experts even back this up. Some studies have shown that jotting down your tasks almost doubles your likelihood of accomplishing them. Jotting down your tasks does several beneficial things. It helps you clarify and refine your tasks – you get down to only what is truly important. The jotted-down tasks provide a tangible reference point you access at any time. This can be a notebook, diary, sticky notes, and the like.
The other remarkable thing about jotting down something is that you are more likely to not forget it. I recall in high school I used to capitalize on this principle when studying. Let’s suppose I have a chunk of notes on a particular subject that I need to revise. I would rewrite them elsewhere. In that process, I would actually imprint them into my mind. That just shows you how powerful jotting down your tasks can be. It even conditions you to be ready knowing you will have to do something later.
Importance Of Energy-Rich Foods
What you eat matters immensely. No wonder I once did an article on dietary considerations necessary for boosting your performance levels. Do check it out and learn some important things about diet and performance. Today I am just focusing on focus. To be focused you need to eat energy-rich foods. This will help you stay energized. Do not rely on energy drinks though; they are bad for you. Anyways, you need to keep things balanced. Taking in too many energy-rich foods will compromise your focus. Examples of healthy energy-rich foods are bananas, yoghurt, oatmeal, water, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Limit Your Sugar Intake
I know sugar is an energy source but you should try to limit your sugar intake. It is even best to eliminate it though that can be difficult. Did you know that after taking in sugar it will take roughly 20 minutes for the initial energy burst to go down? This means after that your focus levels will drastically fall. Too much sugar can also affect memory retention. It can also affect the normal operation of cognitive functions. It can even result in depression and anxiety.
The final thing you need to know regards multitasking. Be careful of multitasking because it compromises your focus. The truth is that multitasking is actually a myth. What you call multitasking is essentially you switching between tasks. Thus you must stop falling for multitasking because it actually ruins your focus. You should solely focus on one task at a time. When you put all these 7 ways together you will find your focus significantly improving. The good thing is you can start implementing them from this very moment.