Concentration

How many times a day do you really need to clear your head and concentrate? Concentration is often needed in your every day life from everything from work to driving down the road. In a world full of electronic gadgets, noise, and multi-tasking, finding time to concentrate so that you may do your best is often near impossible. Studies have shown that certain modern day luxuries along with basic human concerns are making our ability to focus near impossible. Eliminating distractions is vital to ultimate concentration.


Log out of social media: Closing your browsers and apps aren’t enough. If you’re like most, you may have notifications set up to let you know about different actions that take place. If you’d rather not disable notifications, turn your device on silent and put it away. If you’re logged in on a desktop, close out all open windows connected to social media.


Push stress away: Having too much on your plate can make it hard to concentrate on individual tasks. It is too easy to let your brain get off track on the current task to think about other things or jobs that lie ahead. Try to learn stress reducing techniques such as meditation or doodling until your brain clears. Research has found that activities that require energy or movement of some sort are better to clear your mind.


Sleep, sleep, and more sleep: Fatigue is often enemy #1! Being tired can ruin your concentration even when other distractions aren’t present. Be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Instead of trying to finish things or staying up late, make sleep a priority. Your mental and physical well being will thank you. Set up alarm clocks to help you wake up and remind you when it’s bed time.


Food is fuel: The brain can’t function without fuel. Skipping meals, breakfast especially, can set you up for a whole day of mental fog. Talk with your doctor or nutritionist about how many meals and snacks you should eat daily. Typically, high protein foods like cheese and nuts can quickly eliminate hunger and help you to focus.


If you find that natural means aren’t helping your concentration or mind, talk with your doctor about other options. They will be able to ask more questions and help you to determine if you have any other options.