The Battle for our Focus is Very Real

According to a study done by Microsoft, we lose interest in just eight seconds. That means our attention span is less than that of a goldfish’s!

The battle for our mind is very real. Never before in history have we had so many different vehicles vying for our attention. Disney+, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok are just some of the heavy hitters out there and unfortunately for us, they are all very good at what they do.

The good news is we can fight back.

1. A Good Night’s Rest

Researchers have found that we need between seven and eight hours a night to operate at peak performance.

A good night’s sleep allows our body to reset itself; reducing stress and alleviating muscle wear. Our ability to focus increases and we are able to reduce our mistakes.

Solution: It isn’t rocket science – schedule your sleep as you would a meeting with an important client. It’s that important.

2. Dust Off Your Jogging Shoes

We have become a sedentary society spending an average of ten hours a day seated. Our body suffers as a result. To counter the effects sitting has on our body we need to move. It doesn’t have to be jogging, but we do need to get our blood pumping.

Most people fail when it comes to exercise because they try to do too much, too fast and simply give up. Play the long game.

Solution: Start with just five minutes of exercise a day. Everyone can find five minutes. Once the habit sticks, it’s easy enough to increase it to ten or twenty, but without the habit, your chance of success is low.

3. Nature is Your Friend

When it comes to natural ways to improve focus, nature is a winner. Too many of us go through our day simply moving from one screen to another.

Put your smartphone away, and get outside. Even just a short walk for 15 to 20 minutes can boost your concentration. Got a writer’s block? Same thing, get outside and simply enjoy nature. A short walk around the neighborhood or wandering through a park will do wonders to get your creative juices flowing. If you’re near a beach or river, even better.

Solution: Spend more time in nature. Here what happens to your brain when you walk in nature.

4. Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient form of focusing the mind that includes body movement often described as “medication in motion.” This low-impact, slow-motion exercise challenges you to focus on your breathing and circular movements in which the muscles are never tensed.

Solution: If you’ve always wanted to give martial arts a try but want a lighter version, Tai Chi could be for you.

5. Meditation

We live in a world of noise. Meditation allows us to clear our minds.

Meditation isn’t for everyone. Maybe try yoga instead. In many ways yoga and meditation are intertwined. They both rely heavily on breathing exercises so if you have trouble sitting still, yoga is a better option for you.

Solution: Try adding a healthy dose of yoga or meditations activities to your daily life.

6. Improve Your Diet

Too many of us fail to invest the time to create a healthy diet conducive to our focus and productivity.

The key to living well is simply a more well-balanced diet. The breakdown of my seven lunches and seven dinners each week is usually 40% chicken, 30% fish, and 30% meat. And every meal comes with a variety of vegetables and fruit. Lastly, and most importantly, I rarely eat till I’m full.

Solution: You don’t need to go vegan; a well-balanced diet can work wonders to improve your focus.

Bottom Line

We just need to fight back! The 6 ways above will help you increase your focus naturally and boost productivity.

Thanks Adrian Shepherd for your Wisdom

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