Focus is a concentration of attention or energy. Every individual needs to be focused on his work or study. If one is not focused, his whole efforts can be wasted in vain. Lack of focus can lead to many problems
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- Decreased productivity
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- Difficulty in learning
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- Increase in stress
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- Learning difficulties
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- Memory problems
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- Decreased creativity
But there are tips to stay focused. I will share 8 strategies to practice your focus.
Well, here comes a question: what is there to practice focusing on?
Our focus level is shallow in this generation. Because we have many distractions, our comfort has increased a lot compared to the past. Mobile phones, laptops, computers, tablets—all these digital devices. We continuously switch from one to another. Due to this, people of all ages are losing their attention span.
As a result, maintaining concentration on a single job for a long period has become tougher. If we try to focus on a task, our attention automatically drifts away. So, it has become hard for students as well as professionals to stay focused.
And I am a sufferer of this problem. I can’t even focus for 1 hour on my studies. I thought and realized that practice “makes a man perfect”.
Then I understood that we have to practice to get better at anything. So how can I practice focus?
Then I researched on Google, read several books, and came up with some effective ways.
I started practicing focus. This helped me a lot, and my focus level improved since I started following these.
What are these methods?
- Specify a particular Time
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a particular Space
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Turning of destructions
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Define objective view
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Divide tasks
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Break time
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No Multitasking
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Fixed Time
1. Specify a particular time
I will do specific work on a certain day and at a certain time. It will keep you focused on your work. It will signal to your brain that it’s time to focus and be productive. As a result, you will have fewer distractions than before.
For example, I finish some tasks on Fridays from 2-5 pm.
2. Set a particular Space
Set a space where you don’t feel bored or uncomfortable. Setting a specific place where you love to work will improve your focus along with your productivity. This will help you minimize distractions from your family members or roommates. It will make your work easier and improve your focus. However, this allows you to stay focused on the single task at hand and get more done in less time.
My particular space for studying is the corner of my room at my table. I also organize all my study materials such as pens, scales, books, supplements, and highlighters on my side so it reduces my time loss and improves my attention.
3. Turning off distractions
Turn off all your social media during this time (messenger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). Keep your phone silent and ask your family members or roommates not to engage with you during this particular time. So, you will find no one to distract you, and focusing on your work will be easier.
4. Define an objective view
Clear an objective of what you will do at this particular time. Define the goal that you want to accomplish. For example, I will write a script, I will complete a chapter, I will finish the spreadsheet of my office, will review my plan or revise the last biology chapter that I studied.
These are examples of how you should clarify your work.
5. Divide Tasks
Divide the work that you want to do. Choose a task and divide it into microtasks. Remember, you are practicing focus.
Let’s go with an example. You choose to complete a chapter. Then you have to specify a chapter. Then write down which topics you will be reading. Which topics will be easy for you to remember and which ones will be hard for you to remember? Write that down.
The aim is to complete your task in multiple steps which will effectively finish your task. And if you write what you are going to do it will help you to complete tasks one after another. If you write down these tasks in several steps then your brain will send signals to complete those tasks in your fixed time. So your time will be saved and your focus will remain.
After finishing these tasks, give a 
done symbol to that task.
6. Break time
Take break time while working. Breaks help manage stress levels, allowing you to approach tasks with a clearer and more focused mind. It will help you refocus and return to your work with a new concentration. The break could be single or multiple. You can also use the Pomodoro technique which is the 25-5 rule. Working continuously for 25 minutes and taking a 5-minute break.
But your break time should be limited.
When I take a break, I take it after 1 hour. I usually go to my corridor or by the window and see what is happening at that time.
Remember, don’t use your phone at this time except when it’s very important.
7.No Multitasking
Multitasking switches our focus between tasks which hampers our work time. This eats your time and makes you slow in the work. By multitasking, you can’t fully focus on your work and it leads to errors in the result.
Complete your task step by step. Move from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… Don’t work 1, 4, 5, 2, 3…
In my work time, I complete my work in a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 format. And I avoid doing multiple tasks at a time. It doesn’t give any benefit; rather, it hampers my productivity.
8. Fixed Time
Keep in mind that you won’t go beyond that fixed time. If your work doesn’t get finished within your fixed time, set in your mind that it was your time and the main goal was to keep in focus. Don’t work even after your fixed time is over. After practicing this, then increase your time. It will boost your productivity.
For example, if you start working and your fixed time is 2 hours, then after following several times, increase it to 2 hours and 30 minutes.
These are some strategies to keep focus in your life. To keep focus, you have to practice it. As you know, people become better in the field in which they practice regularly. I have seen a massive improvement after following these methods.
So these were my effective strategies for focus; try these out to increase the length of your focus.
