Your ability to focus and concentrate affects almost every area of life, from career to relationships to creativity, productivity and more. In an increasingly noisy world with multi-billion dollar industries designed to grab your attention, the opportunities for distraction are endless and it’s easy to feel scattered, unproductive and frustrated.
Fortunately, the ability to focus and concentrate can be trained and improved through lifestyle choices. Try the following strategies to increase your ability to stay focused and attentive, so you can do more of what’s important and ignore the rest.
Practice mono tasks
You’re always training your brain. When you have 17 tabs open and you’re jumping from one task to another, your brain is learning to get distracted. You can support greater focus and attention by turning off phone notifications, keeping your phone on “do not disturb” or staying in a separate room while you work, closing browser tabs, batch processing email, and setting boundaries for yourself. the field of social media.
Keep in mind that the brain can only focus on one task at a time. Although multitasking is possible, the brain must jump back and forth from one task to another. There are costs involved. For example, have you ever been in the middle of writing an important document and someone interrupts you? It takes a while to get back into the mindset of where you were. Imagine how much time this takes if this happens hundreds of times a day.
Meditate
Research indicates that increased attention is one of the many benefits of regularly practicing meditation. Meditation also offers the opportunity to create some space between you and your thoughts, so that you can choose what is really important to you and be purposeful with your attention. Focus requires that you not only choose what matters in the moment, but also that you choose what does not matter so that it can be eliminated.
Eat a diet for a healthy inflammatory response
A diet high in colorful fruits and vegetables is packed with antioxidants that support optimal brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids are another important part of a diet that supports a healthy brain capable of sustained attention. If you’re not sure where to start, start with these five brain foods: leafy greens, blueberries, eggs, walnuts and salmon.
Includes herbal support
In addition to lifestyle practices, herbal allies are an excellent way to support improved focus and attention. Herbs like gotu kola, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, lemon balm, eleuthero, and bacopa are all great for brain health. These can be taken as tinctures or teas. Consider Genius Juice, a balanced formula that contains several of these herbs.
Remember that your ability to focus and pay attention plays a huge role in the quality of your life! Which of these tips can you apply in your life today?
Writer Katie Gerber is a holistic health and nutrition coach who serves clients locally and online. In 2014, she completed Aviva Romm’s Herbal Medicine for Women certification. After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2014 and the Colorado Trail in 2016, Katie decided to use her knowledge of botanical medicine and nutrition to help fellow wilderness enthusiasts in their quest for more energy and better health. She transitioned from her career as a pastry chef and enrolled at the Institute for Transformational Nutrition. She now uses her lifelong passion for holistic health with her background in culinary arts to help people live healthier lives, in tune with nature. Katie writes for various publications and speaks at local events. When she’s not writing and working with clients, you’ll likely find her in the mountains, in the garden, or in the kitchen testing recipes. Read more about Katie, her articles and her adventures on her website.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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