Credit: AliAbdaal (I got all my information from his YouTube video which will be linked at the end.)
We all have our moments when we find it too difficult to focus. God knows how many times we've all wondered about how we can focus more instead of succumbing to that feeling of wanting to walk away.
Turns out, there are ways to increase your focus by dealing with the factors that impact our ability to focus. Today, I will be talking about these factors and how to get them to help us focus more. But first...
What Are The Factors That Impact Our Focus?
There are four factors that impact our level of focus which include our Mindset, which deals with how we perceive our work; our Technique, which focuses on how we work; our Environment, which looks into our surroundings; and the Human Factor, which reiterates that we are human and to function properly, we need to take care of our bodies.
Factor #1: Mindset
There is no denying that the way our minds perceive things impact our attitudes towards them MASSIVELY. For that reason, the number one way to maintain your focus is to somehow stop yourself from getting bored too easily. Look at the task in a different light, one where there isn't room for your brain to complain about it. If you get your mind to understand it in a this-is-boring or I-don't-want-to-do-this way, you'll be able to deal with the task easily, possibly enjoying the process too. Here's how:
- Make it fun
This may sound weird, but it works. Well, there's a range of ways you could do that: make it into a little video game kind of thing, each task being a challenge you need to complete to move to the next level and have a reward every time you complete a 'level'.
Another way to make it fun brings us to our next point to do with the mindset:
- Do it with friends or peers
Whether you are all working on the same thing or not, you could do this in a wide range of ways. Working whilst surrounded by others has been found to help boost your focus as your surroundings would create the perfect work environment.
With regards to making it fun, challenge each other by throwing in a challenging question related to your work from time to time; or just race each other to see who can finish their work first; or, if you are doing different things, maybe ask them something about their work from time to time so that they can teach you it and vice versa - not only would that give you a little break, but it you'll learn something new or you'll get the chance to test your knowledge by teaching.
- Make it you little adventure
What you make it actually depends on you, it could be your adventure of the day, or it could be your highlight of the day or even simply your good of the day. When you change the way you look at it, you change the way you deal with it, and so it becomes less of a hassle.
Factor #2: Technique
Sometimes you do not feel motivated or bothered to do what you need to do. Your mindset could also eventually wear off halfway through your work... that's where technique steps in. The technique you use helps you keep working for longer periods until you are happy with what you've done and are ready to call it a day without that feeling of guilt behind it all. Here are some ways to improve you focus:
- NO MULTITASKING
Yes, multitasking makes you feel like you're getting more done in less time, when in reality you really are not. Instead, work on each task one at a time and you'll find that working on each task one at a time lets you get it done faster, allowing you to move onto the next task faster and so...
- NO TASK-SWITCHING
The difference between multitasking and task-switching is that multitasking is two things being done at the same time whilst task-witching is going to do another task in the middle of something else. (I'd be lying if I said I don't have a problem with this... I just did it a few minutes ago whilst writing the 'Mindset' section of this very blog.)
The reason why task-switching is bad for your focus is because, despite you being able to get something else done quickly, you are losing some of your focus during your jump between tasks. To maintain this focus, don't jump. Stick to whatever you've been previously doing then move on once you are done.
- Create (mini) Deadlines
Creating mini-deadlines forces you to be as productive as possible and to get whatever it is that you need to get done done as soon as possible. Deadlines can also help you manage your time as you decide what to prioritise, by when must it be done, how long to take on it and so on.
- Switch you Notifications Off
Notifications are the biggest distractors out there. They are little door to multitasking and task-switching as well as going completely off track. Even if you have strong control over yourself and didn't look at your screen to check the notification, chances are, your brain is now thinking of it and that is focus lost.
Pomodoro
Now, the Pomodoro technique doesn't work for everyone, but think of it as just a timer - or a (mini-)mini-deadline. Pomodoro timers (whether they are online or apps) often allow the user to change the length of the timer so you don't have to stick to the 25-minutes-work-and-5-minute-break timer. What I tend to do is use it to get into the mood of working, especially whenever I am not motivated. By the end of the 25 minutes - or even 5 minutes if you want - you would have found yourself in some sort of work flow with a focused mindset and would be able to continue working for longer periods without any issues.
Factor #3: Environment
The environment you are in plays a massive factor in what you do and how you do things, that's why you should pay attention to your environment and make it suitable for yourself before you start working so that you can work to your optimum:
- Have an Inspiring Atmosphere
Yes, you heard me, you can decorate your area and make it aesthetic in a way that will help you work to your best ability. Having potted plants, even if they are fake, have been found to be really beneficial for your mental health and your focus. HOWEVER, if you pay too much attention to how your work space looks, you will not get any work done. You need to find a balance, if you lean towards either extremes, the optimum focus will not be achieved.
- Brain Drain
This is a term for what the presence of your phone does to your focus. No explanation is needed: it is clear as day. A study found that just having your phone present in the room you are working in can reduce your cognitive capacity, which is your ability to think, and therefore focus. So if you can't dare imagine working without your phone in the room, at least put it away before you work.
- Distractions
There are two types of distractions: the good and the bad. Let's start off by talking about the bad distractions.
Bad distractions include notifications and anything that may lure you into wasting your time and not being productive. These distractions need to be removed entirely so that you can focus on your work completely. You may do this by going to a quieter place, putting your phone on a focus or listening to white nose to block out any other sounds.
Good distractions should be welcomed. Though they do take you away from your work, these are the distractions that make life worthwhile and create memories. For example, if a friend or family member walk past your room and starts up a quick conversation with you or if your child comes to show you something they made, that's a good distraction. These moments are brief, and can lead to other things that take you away from your work for longer, but at the end of the day, you won't regret them. Life isn't always about work.
Factor #4: Human Factor
No matter how hard you try, you will need to rest at one point. You are a human, not a machine. Your body needs time and attention so that it too could recover from the hard work and start again later. Health is wealth. So take care of it so it can take care of you:
- Rest
Take breaks between tasks, even if it for 5 minutes so that you can refresh yourself and restart. If you keeping working, doing tasks that are back-to-back, you will burnout and become too tired to do anything else. That will be a loss of more than just focus.
Exercise
Focus on your health and workout, even if it is occasional. You don't have to become a body builder and lift 100 kilos, you don't have to become a pro athlete. All you have to do is do something active. There are so many physical and mental health benefits it doesn't need to be mentioned here because of how obvious they are. 5 minutes a day is more than enough. Stretches and walks also count. You'll feel refreshed like never before after that.
Eat Well
We all love having a take away or delving into some fast-food. But too much junk food is a problem and we all know that. More than half of your health depends on what you eat. Not only would you feel so much better once you start eating well, but so will our hospitals around the world because they'll have less patients leading to less waiting time. That way, you are not only benefitting yourself, but the community as a whole.
Sleep Well
So many people do not sleep well. Listen to me well: I don't care if you want to stay up. I don't care if you're not a child anymore to have a bedtime. Bedtime is not just for children! It's for everyone. Why else do you think you are so tired? Because you didn't sleep well. Try creating a schedule for how long you'll sleep and when you'll wake up, starting off by adding a few minutes to how long you currently sleep and gradually increasing it until you reach your target of 7-9 hours a night. Create a sleep routine for before you go to bed to make it easier to sleep. Once you wake up refreshed instead of tired, you'll be able to get started on a productive day. Thank me later.
So there you go. Some ways on how to increase your productivity. I know some of them seem simple and easy, and some absolutely useless, but they are all methods that will help. Give them a shot and see if they work for you. Below is a poster I made to sum it all up in a much more simpler and visual way.
Also, I must credit Ali Abdaal for all the information. He summed up all the possible ways to maintain your focus in his video 'How to Stay Focused While Studying - Evidence-Based Tips' but the tips can be used for maintaining your focus for everything and anything and not necessarily just studying. The link to the video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdhmijg7oRY , and this is the link to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOae5nYA7VqaXzerajD0lg .
I’ll see you in my next post. Take care ;)
Comments