Hello Friends,
There are so many distractions and so much noise out there these days it can sometimes feel impossible to remain focused on your essential tasks. From staring at our screens all day on social media to work emails, phone calls, tv shows…it’s hard not to get lost! According to a 2019 study, the average American spends between 3 and 8 hours staring at screens, and it doesn’t help that our attention spans keep getting shorter and shorter in this age of instant gratification. But don’t worry my friends because I am here with some helpful tips on how you can cut through the BS and maintain better focus to help you crush your most important tasks throughout your workday.
The first thing you should do is to eliminate distractions. While some distractions are inevitable, you should try to get rid of as many as possible. You can start by trying to move to a quieter area or workspace and turning off the notifications on your phone (or turning it off all together if you can!). Close the door to your office or workspace and tell those around you not to distract you while you work (keep it down people). You can also try to close out of non-essential work apps or programs on your computer.
Another strategy to maintain your focus is to try what’s called the Pomodoro technique. This is a specific timing method that helps you train your brain to stay on task for short periods of time. Start by setting your timer for 25 minutes, then when your timer runs out take a 5 minute break. Then set the timer again and get back to work. Once you’ve done four rounds of this, you can
take a longer break, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. This can help you stay more focused, on task and get your work done throughout the day.
We all know how obsessed people are with social media. Turn it off! Flipping through a stream can be incredibly distracting, I am sure we have all been down that rabbit hoie a time or two. You also want to make sure you fuel your body. If you get hungry your brain gets hungry and you will not be able to focus at all on what you need to get done. Eat a large nutritious breakfast and make sure you have healthy snacks to keep you going throughout your day. Some good options are bananas, apples, berries and walnuts. Make sure you pack a healthy, protein rich lunch like a salad with salmon and green veggies and always stay hydrated! Your brain will function at its best when properly nourished and hydrated.
Obviously drinking a lot of coffee and loading up on caffeine can help you maintain focus for a while but that comes with jitters, added physical stress on your body and the inevitable crash. I personally like to add a stimulant-free supplement to my diet that is rich with blueberry fruit extract. Blueberries are rich in flavonoids, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In a study published in 2017, it was clinically proven that adding a supplement with an anthocyanin-rich blueberry concentrate improved brain perfusion and activation in brain areas associated with cognitive function, memory and focus in healthy older adults. So
basically our little powerhouse friend the blueberry can help us maintain a crisp and jitter free focus throughout the day when taken over time.
To sum this up, if you try some of these strategies and give your body the focus-fuel that it needs you can cut through the distractions and get stuff done! I don’t know about you but now I feel ready and motivated to attack the day!
Stay well my friends, until next time.
-Scott Solomon
Scott Solomon is a former collegiate and NFL athlete and the co-founder and CEO of BrainTree Nutrition. He is passionate about helping people live their happiest and healthiest lives. Through meticulous research and an unwavering commitment to transparency, quality and honesty, he and the entire team at BrainTree believe they have created some of the best and most effective supplements on the market. Please visit braintreenutrition.com to learn more.