Have you ever been in a fog mentally where you just didn’t feel like you could stay focused on the task at hand?  You start to work on a project and you get distracted within the first few minutes or maybe you were headed to the kitchen or garage or someplace else in the house and when you arrived you couldn’t remember what you were going there for?  Well, there might be a reason for that, and today’s post will give you five quick tricks to help you get your focus back.

DRINK MORE WATER

According to Healthline.com; “proper hydration is key to staying in tip-top cognitive shape.  Several studies indicate that not drinking enough water can negatively impact your focus, alertness, and short-term memory.”  So, grab your water bottle and start drinking; at least 50 to 75% of your body weight in ounces daily.

GET BETTER SLEEP

A recent article from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke websites states; “Sleep is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. In fact, your brain and body stay remarkably active while you sleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake.”  So how do you get better sleep?  Here are a few suggestions:  Turn off social media and other smart devices an hour before bedtime, cut out the caffeine at least 12 hours before bedtime, turn the house lights down 30 min. before bedtime, have a routine to get your mind thinking about a regular bedtime.  The average person should get between 7 to 8 hours of sleep nightly.

CROSS OUT THE CARBS & SUGARS FROM YOUR DIET

Psychology Today suggests the following related to the intake of carbs and sugars:  “A high-sugar diet impacts both physical and mental health. The roller coaster of high blood sugar followed by a crash may accentuate the symptoms of mood disorders. Research has tied heavy sugar consumption to an increased risk of depression and worse outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia.”

DO A SOCIAL MEDIA FAST (DAILY)

According to PSYCOM.net; “Results from a separate study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine showed that the more time young adults spent on social media, the more likely they were to have problems sleeping and report symptoms of depression.”

Our society is too involved with social media and disconnected from real-life conversations.  Limit your social media time to a few minutes a day; and as stated above, turn off your smart devices at least an hour before bed – read a book!

DON’T TRY TO MULTITASK (It’s Impossible)

According to Dr. Kubu, the Chairman of the Neurological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, “For nearly all people, in nearly all situations, multitasking is impossible.  When we think we’re multitasking, most often we aren’t really doing two things at once – but instead, individual actions in rapid succession.”

Dr Kubu continues; “Trying more than one thing at a time — especially anything potentially dangerous, like texting while driving — seriously compromises our ability to complete the tasks safely and well. Equally important, repeatedly switching back and forth from project to project, like a hummingbird darting from flower to flower and then back to the original flower, can impair our ability to function at our finest.”

Want more insight?

You are in charge of getting control of your focus.  Consider a few consulting visits with me (in the office, over the phone, or in a Zoom Conference Room).  I can help you cut through the fog of life to get un-stuck and gain some success in life.

Email:  [email protected]

Call:  231-499-9069

What are you doing to gain ownership of your life?  Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear what is working for you.