Are you trying to learn how to stay focused in life? If yes, you should check out some of our best tips by clicking right here.
Do you feel like you have trouble focusing?
If so, you’re not alone. In fact, according to a recent study, the average human being has an attention span of 8 seconds. Luckily, there are things you can do to improve your focus and increase your attention span.
Check out this guide to discover how to stay focused in life.
1. Get Rid of Distractions
Even the seemingly smallest of distractions can unravel a potentially productive day.
To be productive, you need to get rid of all distractions. While you can’t get rid of everything, you should make an effort to reduce as many distractions as possible.
This may include:
- Moving to a quiet space
- Working with your phone or electronics in another room
- Closing your office door
- Turning off phone notifications or turning off your phone altogether
- Letting those around you know that you can’t be distracted for a certain period of time
- Closing out apps and programs that aren’t essential to your workday
Even these simple changes can make a huge difference in your productivity levels.
2. Use the Pomodoro Technique
Being productive doesn’t mean working eight hours straight without a break. Oftentimes, the longer we attempt to stay focused, the more our attention wanders.
This is why we suggest trying out the Pomodoro technique. With this technique, you set a timer and work for 25 minutes straight. Once time runs out, you take a five-minute break.
Once you’ve done several rounds of this, you can treat yourself to a longer break of 20 to 30 minutes.
Another study found that working for 52 minutes straight and then taking a 17-minute break is the sweet spot for many people, so you can try this out as well.
3. Stay Off Social Media
We all know that social media can be a huge time sucker. You think you’re only going to scroll for a few minutes, and all of a sudden you look up and a couple of hours have passed.
If this happens to you frequently, trust us, you’re not alone. In fact, the average person spends 2 hours and 23 minutes per day on social media!
Just think about how much more you could get done with an extra 2.5 hours! To prevent yourself from wasting your day away on social media, we suggest disabling the apps from your phone while you’re trying to get stuff done.
If this isn’t enough to increase your focus, many people find that downloading an app that blocks social media is the best solution. With many of these apps, you can set a timer so you’re only allowed to be on social media for a certain amount of time each day.
In addition to temporarily blocking social media platforms, many of these apps also let you block other distracting sites like Amazon, Etsy, or Netflix.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep can have a major impact on your focus as well as your productivity levels. If you feel like you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re not alone.
In fact, according to the CDC, one in three adults don’t get enough sleep! Luckily, there are many things you can do to increase the length and the quality of your sleep.
Here are some things you can do:
- Establish a bedtime routine that helps you wind down and stick to it
- Try to wake up and go to bed at the same time every day (even on weekends)
- Wake up early and go to bed early
- Turn off electronics an hour before bedtime (pick up a book instead!)
- Avoid drinking caffeine after lunch
- Keep your bedroom cool at night (between 60 and 67 degrees)
These simple tricks can improve your sleep drastically, and in turn, your focus.
5. Set Daily Goals
Do you ever feel like you go into your day with a bunch of things you’d like to get done, but no clear direction on how you’re going to get things done or which items you’re going to tackle first?
If so, then you need to start setting daily goals. It’s a lot easier to stay focused when you keep in mind that there’s a reason for what you’re doing.
We suggest either keeping a to-do list in your journal or on your phone for getting things done. Write out your goals for the day, as well as what order you’re going to accomplish them in and how long you’re going to spend on each task.
Bit by bit, you’ll realize that reaching these small, daily goals are helping you achieve your bigger goals!
6. Stay Fueled
If you want your mind to stay sharp, you need to fuel your body the right way.
To keep your brain focused and energy levels up, we suggest balancing your diet with healthy fats, complex carbs, and lean proteins. Additionally, here are some “brain foods”, that can help you stay focused:
- Dark, leafy greens
- Fatty fish like salmon
- Walnuts
- Caffeinated coffee and tea, in moderation
- Berries such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries
By fueling your body with these healthy foods, your focus will skyrocket.
7. Reward Yourself
Of course, you also need to remember to reward yourself for a job well done.
Every time you achieve one of your daily goals, we suggest giving yourself a mini reward. This could be as small as going for a quick walk outside, calling a friend, or spending a few minutes browsing one of your favorite blogs.
Having these rewards will keep you motivated to achieve your goals and help you stay focused.
How to Stay Focused in Life: Are You Ready to Focus Up?
Now that you know how to stay focused in life, it’s time to put these tips into action. Before you know it, your focus will increase and your days will be more productive than ever.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more articles like this one!
