How to Sharpen My Focus

Maintaining your focus on one issue at a time can be difficult when confronted with other worries and with external distractions. Over time, however, your focus can be sharpened and strengthened with practice, much the same way that any other mental ability can be learned and improved upon. The key to successfully sharpening your focus will be to not only discipline any counterproductive thought patterns, but also to change counterproductive living and work habits.

Instructions

• 1

  Designate a specific amount of time per day for worrying and intrusive thoughts. Make this period short, anywhere from five minutes to an hour, and schedule it for the same time each day. Use this time to let your mind acknowledge and work through anxious thoughts. Remind yourself throughout the day that you have a specific time for worrying when stray concerns pop up outside of this time.

• 2

  Reduce clutter and noisy distractions in your living and/or work space. Organize messy piles of important paperwork and file them away. Turn off the television when trying to concentrate, and listen only to relaxing, nonintrusive instrumental background music at a low volume. Turn off your phone.

• 3

  Break down a large goal into more easily definable and attainable mini-goals. Determine what steps need to be taken and successfully accomplished to reach your larger objective, arrange them in order, and set cutoff dates for each step. Concentrate on each separate step fully and individually.

• 4

  Exercise vigorously and regularly to increase the level of oxygen and endorphins in your bloodstream. Engage consistently in cardio and weightlifting workouts throughout your week, before those times in the day that require your focus, in order to take advantage of the feeling of lucid composure that often comes with a postworkout oxygen and endorphin spike.

• 5

  Take short, periodic breaks during periods of intense concentration. Allow yourself five to 10 minutes of break time for every hour of concentrating. Use this time to walk around, take care of a quick errand, get a drink or snack, play with pets, or any other casual activity that is unrelated to what you're focusing on.