How to focus better?: Do you happen to be one of those folks who just prefer to think that they are not focused enough to work at the moment and end up procrastinating it? If so, you are also probably one of the millions of prey to self fulfilling prophecy- a situation whereby an action eventually becomes the truth only because you believed it to be so. The more you believe that you are unable to focus, the more difficult it becomes to maintain your attention span on anything at all!
However, we at HNBT, genuinely believe that you can be a one-man-band in taking charge of the situation to regain all the focus that you thought you have lost! We think you have what it takes to return to your desk after the short break and finish up that pending work like you promised. All you need is to master a few tricks to help you focus better and we assure you that distractions and prolonged breaks will be a story of the past!
5 Foolproof Hacks To Help Your Brains Focus Better (This Time For Real)
1. Believe that you can
First of all, stop telling yourself and everyone else that you can’t focus- you know it’s not true! As cliché as it may sound, in order for you to achieve something, you will first have to believe that you can. Remember the self-fulfilling prophecy theory? Try applying the same psychology in believing that you CAN focus and it will eventually work in your favour and help your attention span last longer, or at least get you started!
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2. Get that break but stop looking forward to it
Breaks have been scientifically proven to be paramount in rebooting your brains regardless of how difficult your task is. It can be something as simple as a history quiz revision or a presentation slide editing, give your brains the break that it deserves! According to a 2015 study by University of Illinois, the participants who took breaks during a 50-minute task performed better than those who did not. The research proved that imposing brief breaks when facing with long tasks, in particular, helps brains focus better. In this case, you might want to go with the Pomodoro Technique, which suggests individuals to work in small bursts. Give yourself a five-minute time off for every 25-30 minutes you work. Simultaneously, you don’t want to be looking forward to that five-minute break while working, because that will only serve as a distraction, resulting in a reverse effect.
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3. Play your jam
Sounds unlikely, we know. But the study by Wake Forest School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina proved that music makes the best companion for individuals who are especially at work, as it unwinds your mind, thereby reviving your focus. The trick is to hit up your favourite playlist- be it rock, jazz or reggae-and retaining focus will start feeling much less of a hard work! As for those of you who are trying to focus better during a revision, hitting up your jam is most likely (and unfortunately) to serve as a distraction, though some students claim otherwise. So, if your Spotify playlist is doing you anything but improved focus, then you might want to resort to slow, instrumental music instead!
Also check: Body language signs that can help you read others minds
4. Doodle guilt-free
Quit feeling guilty about doodling in meetings and lectures because science has officially declared it the thinking tool! Doodling at work may create the impression that you are zoning out, but that process highly benefits your mind by keeping it active and helping your thoughts come together. According to 2009 study in Applied Cognitive Psychology, participants who doodled while listening to a list of names being read were able to recall 31% more of the information than those who did not in a surprise quiz later. Not only will your lazy doodles help regain focus, but it can also be used to express complex emotions and recall information.
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5. Breathe to focus
Just like your heart, your brains too have the tendency to suffocate in cases of inadequate oxygen supply. A consistent supply of oxygen to your brain is thereby important not just to help you keep away from distraction and improve focus, but also to reduce stress and anxiety that comes with your task! All you have to do is BREATHE. Take deep breaths before you begin your tasks. You may also opt for a technique called the nostril breathing. For this, you will have to use your right thumb to close off your right nostril, and then inhale with your left nostril and hold it for three seconds. Exhale through the right nostril and repeat this process with your left. It’s a pretty easy hack to master with which will also be born a much polished focus!
The next time you feel your focus going all over the places, try these sure-fire hacks to get them back in state and help you focus better. Good luck!
