How to stay focused

If you get distracted easily and can’t put your heart and soul into your work then these tips are for you, today I’ll share 6 tips that may help you stay focused.

Number 1: Set goals which are smart.

By setting a goal you know what you have to achieve and accordingly plan your steps. It also boasts your self-confidence.

But what are smart goals? Smart is an abbreviation for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound.

Suppose you want to improve your vocabulary, “improve vocabulary” is a general goal but a specific goal will be, "I will learn 5 new words from the dictionary every day."

Ok so we have now set a specific goal but how would we know if there’s a progress? There should be criteria for measuring progress. To make a goal measurable ask your self

1) How much or many?

2) How do I know if I have reached my goal?

3) What’s my indicator of progress?

In this case the indicator can be improved writing skill or fluency in speaking.

The goal should be attainable and achievable for that you should be aware of your capabilities. For instance if you don’t even know the alphabets of the language, you want to be better at, how can you build your vocabulary? At that point, you’re not capable enough to achieve that goal, and that goal will turn to be irrelevant for you.

“Improve vocabulary in just one day” yup that’s an unrealistic goal.

A realistic goal is the one that can be achieved in the available resources and time. Setting goals that are realistic is more likely to be achieved.

All the other things will come together only if the goal is time bound. The goal being timely bound will help you to focus better and will keep you motivated.

Number 2: Know your biological prime time.

Everyone has a different biological prime time, that’s the time of the day when you’re at your best. Are you a “morning person”, a “night owl” or a “late afternoon wizard”? Knowing what your best time is and planning to use that time for your priorities helps you to focus better.

Number 3: Get rid of things that distract you.

These days’ smartphones prove to be the biggest distraction. So either you keep it away from your desk or switch it off. Some phones also come with the feature of locking the phone for the set time; there are also apps for the same purpose. One such app is forest; it comes with really cool user interface.

Other than smart phones, hunger, thirst, and noise can be a distraction. So it’s better to keep snacks and water near you while you work and sit in a quiet place.

Number 4: Make your workspace.

Having a dedicated work space improves concentration. Only keep the essentials on your desk and remove all the non-essential items. 

Working in a clean and tidy environment means you are less likely to be distracted by other objects. And you’ll feel less anxious about the amount of work you need to finish.

Number 5: Take breaks between your working sessions.

Non-stop focus on one thing for hours on end will only leave you drained. Taking timely breaks will clear your mind and you’ll feel more refreshed. Take at least 15-20 minutes break after each 60 to 90 minutes of working sessions. During your break you can nap, meditate or go on a walk. Leave your desk when you’re on your break.

Number 6: Do one task at a time.

Having too many things to work on at a time will divide your attention inhibiting you to focus better. Switching away from a primary task to do something else, you’re increasing the time it takes to finish that task by an average of 25 per cent. With the increase in time the pressure to complete the task will also increase, leading to stress.

To avoid such scenarios, work towards eliminating the urgent. Reduce the urgent things you must do beforehand your working session.

If these tips worked for you make sure to tell us in the comment section below.