5 Ways to Increase the Power of Focus

If you’re like me and most of the women I know, you’ve got a lot going on all the time! With so much going on, it isn’t always easy to focus on the task at hand, even with the best of intentions. Because of this, I’m always looking for tips and tricks to help me be more focused and, in turn, more productive. These 5 ways to increase the power of focus are simple practices that have helped me sharpen this skill.

 5 ways to Increase the Power of Focus:

1. Let the Mind Wander: Yes, you heard that right! Giving ourselves time to let the mind wander increases creativity, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing. Having those fundamentals covered helps increase focus when necessary.
2. Get Comfortable: Before starting a task or project that’s going to need a lot of focus, make sure your physical comforts are taken care of: wear comfortable clothing, have a snack and something to drink on hand, and work in a physical space that you find pleasing.
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3. Start With a Plan: Whether I’m starting a day filled with a bunch of mundane chores or a big project with a lot of small parts, I always start the task with a list. Lists are powerful tools. Not only do lists help me remember what needs to get done, they keep me accountable. If it’s on the list, I’ll try harder to make sure that thing, whatever it is, gets done.
4. Guard Against Interruption: Common sense tells us that the more we’re interrupted, the harder it is to get our tasks or projects done. When I have a project or task I want to concentrate on, I let people know that I don’t want to be interrupted unless it’s an emergency or possibly something else (i.e. I’m waiting for a particular phone call). If there’s just too much commotion going on where you’re at, you may need to go work at a different location.
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5. Take Breaks: If you’re like me, you want to power through and get your stuff taken care of as soon as possible—leaving more time for other stuff—or just to relax. If you really want to increase focus and productivity, though, you’re better off taking short breaks during activities. A short 10 to 15-minute break every hour to hour and a half helps the brain from feeling overloaded and overwhelmed. It supposedly also helps us retain information better. When I was finishing up my bachelor’s degree a couple of years ago, our professors often had us take short breaks during long lectures for these reasons. Also, if you’re stuck on a particular aspect of a project, it often helps to put your work aside for a while and then come back to it another time—giving your subconscious a chance to work out the issues/problems.

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These days there’s always so much to do! The list seems endless sometimes: plenty of chores, tasks, projects, and our jobs, of course. Then there’s all the fun stuff we want to do like spending time with family and friends, going places and attending events. Squeezing more into the day means getting some things done quicker—but without compromising quality. Fit more into the day with These 5 Ways to Increase the Power of Focus.

I’d love to hear what you do to help increase your ability to focus. Please share in the comments section below!

Lisa

Lisa is a mother of three lovely young women and is a new grandmother to a baby boy! She has been married to her high school sweetheart for more than thirty years. Lisa is originally from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, but has lived in the Tampa Bay area since 1984. Running a small business for over 25 years and raising a family has made for a busy, busy life with many ups and downs; it’s definitely been an adventure.

Lisa’s always involved in one project or another whether it’s work related or serving her community. She also recently went back to school to finish her bachelor’s degree in American Studies. Lisa tries to make every day a good day—that means learning something new, practicing kindness, and enjoying the present moment.