6 Steps that will help you learn to focus

Learn to focus with these easy steps

There has been increasingly more evidence lately that says that multitasking is overrated and inefficient. You know this already if you ever tried paper writing, checking emails and surfing Internet at the same time. When we try to do everything at once, it may seem like we manage to do more within shorter period of time, but in fact multitasking decreases our ability to focus. It’s important to understand, if you want your performance to always be top-notch. But if you are a die-hard multitasker who finds it difficult to focus, is there any hope for you? Well, you are in luck because there are certain steps you can take in order to increase your ability to focus.

Step 1. Sleep more

Our attention depends on the context we are in. If you don’t get enough sleep and constantly feel stressed out, it will be very hard for you to focus even in the most favorable circumstances. You won’t find it easy to focus if you worked on your research writing all night and stress over your deadlines.

Yes, some people tend to feel better after taking some caffeine, but others may actually feel worse. realizing your personal level of composure and concentration is the first step to improving your attention concentration during lengthy periods of time.

Step 2. Write down everything that distracts you

You probably get this feeling often: too many thoughts and ideas in your head that don’t let you concentrate properly and keep distracting you again and again. In this case, it would be a good idea to start keeping a journal or at least write to do lists. Just write down your ideas or things you need to do. Expressive writing helps unloading your mind, and by writing things down you make sure you won’t forget to go back to them later.

Step 3. Switch off your devices and gadgets

Whatever you do, maximum concentration comes when you tune yourself for success. Make sure you have all resources and materials necessary for work and that you have enough time to complete your task. Switch off all email and social networks notifications. Remember that any push notification will decide it for you what you have to be focused on. Want to work on those topics for research paper? Make sure no one and nothing distracts you until you are done.

Step 4. Take responsibility for what you do

This may sound simple, but to really concentrate on something, you need to feel responsibility for what you do. Without this you’ll just keep getting distracted by other things on your mind or some things around you. You must say it to yourself straightforward – that you must complete this task now – and really complete it within chosen time.

Step 5. Practice

Gaining required level of concentration may take some time and practice. Maybe you will have to start with 10 minutes, making yourself stay focused during that time. Your goal is to learn to focus on your task during 25-90 minutes (depending on the type of work you are doing and your personal attention capacity). You might want to start with easier tasks – for example, practice writingessays you feel the most confident about. Essay online samples you can find on internet. If you take your practice seriously and do every day, you will soon be able to focus enough to complete any tasks you have at hand.

Step 6. Take breaks

Don’t think that working for hours without taking a break makes you more productive. In fact, taking short breaks from time to time may improve your concentration significantly. Length of breaks depends on each individual. But the main thing is to distract your mind from work and switch it to something different. This way you give yourself an opportunity to relax and gain more energy for further work.

Learning to focus may not be easy at first – like any skill, it has to be trained and that takes time and effort. But if you try these steps, you’ll soon be inspired by how much more productive you’ve become.