A Harvard study found that people spend almost half of their day with a wandering mind; that means focusing on something other than what they’re currently supposed to be doing. Distractions are detrimental to your productivity, and make it easier to feel overwhelmed by the tasks sitting in front of you. But if you suffer from a lack of focus, don’t lose hope! I’ve written blog posts about distractions before with practical ways to rid yourself of them, most of which involve putting down your cell phone.  According to the article, The 6-Step Process to Train Your Brain to Focus, there are a few other ways to stay focused — some you may not have thought about before:  

  1. Get more sleep.

    Believe it or not, sleep can definitely affect your ability to stay focused on certain tasks. Sleep is an integral part of growth and personal success, and it equips your brain to take on the next day. 6-hour nights can’t cut it!
 
  1. Write down what’s stealing your focus.

    Those looming thoughts that keep you distracted … write them down so they don’t take up any more space in your mind! With your list, you can decide later whether or not you need to follow-up on that thought or let it go.
 
  1. Keep practicing.

    Staying focused can become a habit if you make it a consistent part of your routine. Practice staying focused on one thing for 10 minutes at a time this week, if focus is really difficult for you. Once you get the hang of it, up that to 30, 45, 60 minutes of staying focused.
[bctt tweet="Staying focused can become a habit if you make it a consistent part of your routine." username="dukematlock"]
  1. Make time for distractions.

    I don’t expect anyone to be able to focus for an entire work day, no matter how hard they practice! Luckily, taking breaks in between times of staying focused can actually help increase your focus.
  A great way to schedule time for focus and focus breaks is through the Focus To-Do app. It allows you to schedule out time to focus based on specific tasks you need to complete for the day. It also plans out breaks and keeps track of how much time you’ve spent on certain tasks. The only other thing I’d add to this list is discipline. At the end of the day, all the productivity apps and tips in the world can’t help you focus if you don’t meet them with self-discipline. The more you practice the discipline of staying focused, the more natural it will feel! [bctt tweet="The more you practice the discipline of staying focused, the more natural it will feel!" username="dukematlock"]    

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