· By PYM STORE
5 Tips For Concentrating
Have you had trouble concentrating? Struggling to find the focus needed to get things done? A lack of concentration can not only be frustrating, it also has the potential to negatively affect so many areas of your life -- your job, your relationships, and even your self worth.
Being able to help you to feel good about yourself, no matter what you may be going through, is one of PYM’s main goals.
With that in mind, here are some of the best tips we’ve found for concentrating more easily.
#1) Track Your Concentration Issues
The first tip for helping with your concentration involves taking a step back and really evaluating it. Are there certain situations where you notice that your ability to concentrate is a struggle?
Keep a log and, when you feel yourself starting to zone out, write it down. You may be able to track the areas that are really causing you problems, so that you can directly tackle them.
In addition, when you can really recognize when your focus and concentration is fading, it helps to draw your attention back to whatever the task may be. That way, you can at least try to wrap up any necessary loose ends and give yourself a stopping point that you can pick back up when you’re concentrating better later on.
#2) Evaluate Your Environment
A lot of the studies and research surrounding concentration was done by the academic community. What gets more attention than the extreme focus it takes to get through school, especially college? Luckily, the knowledge that comes out of that research can be applied to anyone in nearly any situation.
For instance, an article written by faculty at Virginia Tech looks at the importance of the study environment on concentration. The perfect study environment, according to the writer, is distraction free, with all the materials that you’ll need, and conditions that are conducive to successful studying (a comfortable chair, the right temperature, etc.).
When you apply that to your job, or focusing on a task at home, the same rules can be successfully applied.
#3) Take a Break
This may sound strange, but one of the best ways to start concentrating more successfully is to stop what you’re doing and take a break. The key is learning how to recognize that you need one, and how long of a break that you should take.
This really has to do with the idea that there may be some natural variations to the cycle of alertness, which suggests that the brain really is unable to focus for more than an hour and a half at a time without needing a break. Experts suggest just 15 minutes can make a difference.
However, some people even believe that a “microbreak” of just a few seconds to reset and refocus will do the trick.
While you’re taking that break, consider also taking a walk. Changing up your scenery and getting your heart pumping can not only help you reset yourself, it can also improve your mood.
When you’re feeling less stressed and more positive, you’ll be able to concentrate even better. Never underestimate the importance of a positive attitude when it comes to achieving your goals.
#4) Cut Yourself Some Slack
We’re humans, not machines, after all.
If you’re having trouble concentrating, no matter what your area of focus is, instead of beating yourself up… forgive yourself. As much as we want to, we can’t totally control our brains. They tend to just do what they want, although we can guide them in the direction that we want.
Enjoy a PYM Mood Chew to help you reduce those temporary feelings of stress and overwhelm that can come with thinking you’re not concentrating hard enough. Take a deep breath, maybe take a quick break, and then get back to work without judgement.
If your self worth is directly tied to your ability to concentrate, you’re going to find yourself struggling. Accepting and appreciating yourself for the perfectly flawed human being that you are, concentrating or not, has greater, positive repercussions in your life than just being able to finish a project.
#5) Don’t Rely on Caffeine
Plenty of people have been taken in by the idea that caffeine equals focus and motivation. While caffeine can be good (who doesn’t love a nice cup of coffee?), it isn’t the magic trick that you need to get your concentration back on track.
In the short term, caffeine may definitely give you a quick mental boost that can help you push through a temporary issue with the way you’re concentrating. However, the more caffeine you drink, the more that you need to achieve the same effect.
In addition, the crash that can come with the caffeine has run its course and left your body can make things worse (both for you and for the people around you). It’s hard to really focus if your heart feels like it’s going to literally beat out of your chest, right?
Instead of caffeine, try just drinking more water. Dehydration can cause all types of problems, both with the body and the mind. It’s not only harder to focus, you may also feel your ability to even think is less. When you’re properly hydrated, it helps your entire body to run smoother, which leaves you to get on with concentrating on whatever you need to do.
In Summary
Tackling issues you may be having with truly concentrating and focusing on the things you need to accomplish can be the key to being able to live a productive, happy life.
With the help of PYM Mood Chews, you can help your brain take those feelings of stress and moments of anxiety off your plate, even for just a little, so you can have a clear moment to recenter and refocus.
Sources:
Focus on concentration | Harvard Health
Improving Concentration/Memory | Cook Counseling Center | Virginia Tech