Email, text message, and social media app notification alerts are the players in this “age of distraction”. According to author Clay Scroggins, social media is a distraction that hinders our focus because it places us in an endless cycle of escapism from our issues. Maintaining focus is hard for even the most disciplined. The following tips will help you maintain focus while working on your tasks and projects.

1.       Get adequate sleep.

A good night’s sleep will improve your focus. In a study published in March 2022, researchers found that at least seven hours of sleep attributed to the highest cognitive performance in individuals between the ages of 38-73.

2.       Increase your water intake.

Mild dehydration can affect your ability to concentrate.  

3.       Eat nutritious food.

Foods such as oranges, broccoli, leafy greens, eggs, walnuts, and salmon provide nutrients to maintain your focus.

4.       Take a break.

Take at least five to fifteen minutes to stretch or walk around to prevent fatigue when working on a time-intensive project.

5.       Designate a specific time to check email and social media.

Set thirty minutes to check in the morning, at lunch, or at the end of the work day.

Refrain from stopping in the middle of a task to check social media.

6.       Close out tabs.

When working on a project online, only have tabs open that are relevant to the project. This will reduce the temptation to look at irrelevant websites.

7.       Eliminate multi-tasking.

Working on one project at a time will maintain your focus and increase your productivity. It may take some time to adopt this strategy but it will be worth it.

8.       Set boundaries.

If your schedule is filled with activities, don’t agree to work on a project for someone else.

9.       Create your ideal working environment.

Creating this space can include investing in a comfortable chair, organizing your workspace, turning of the television, and decorating the space with inspirational artwork.

10.   Plan your week.

At the end of each week, plan your activities (professional, personal, and family) for the following week.