We all have asked the questions: How can I focus better or how can I concentrate better? What are the ways to focus better? Do you have tips to improve concentration? Fortunately, there are 12 Natural Ways to Improve Focus/Concentration. Let’s look at the difference between focus and concentration. Thereafter, we discuss the 12 natural ways to improve focus and concentration.
About Focus and Concentration
Focus and concentration are words with very similar connotations and are often used interchangeably. Focus deals with you paying/giving particular/special attention to something/particular activity. To concentrate is the mental effort to think intensely about particular topic, object or activity. In other words, concentration deals with your ability to stay focused.
Difficulty Staying Focused or Not Being Able to Concentrate
It is normal for most people to occasionally have difficulty in staying focused or not being able to concentrate. It may well be due to tiredness, emotional stress, hormonal changes, depression, anemia (deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood) and sleep deprivation. Other more serious reasons to have problems to concentrate is due to a stroke, alcohol or drug abuse, head injuries, dementia (loss of memory and other mental abilities) and ADHD. Since attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder, there is no cure for it and need therapy or medication.
If you occasionally experience focusing, or concentration issues, you should not be concerned. Even intelligent people may find it difficult to focus or concentrate, since they have very active minds. Constantly train your brain by using natural ways to improve focus and concentration.
12 Natural Ways to Improve Focus/Concentration
Here are 12 Natural Ways to Improve Focus/Concentration that you can apply daily:
- Do NOT multi-task: By multi-tasking constantly your brain will adapt to this behavior and you will lose the ability to focus.
- Daily Brain Stimulation: Make sure your brain is stimulated each day by doing something that requires thinking / concentration.
- Stay Organized: Keep organized to-do lists to prevent you thinking of what you should do.
- Setting Deadlines: Set deadlines and when you start doing something stay on task.
- Time Allocation: Be smart in allocating your time. Do creative work or toughest tasks first (the tasks that requires the most concentration).
- Scheduling Time: Plan ahead, schedule your day and include 15-minute breaks.
- Limit Browser Windows that’s Open: Only keep applications and browser windows open that you need for what you are busy with at that point.
- Work Environment: Organize your work environment, block out the noise, turn off notifications (text messages and incoming emails especially), ignore social media and limit distractions as far as possible.
- Gadget Free Zones: Establish gadget-free zones where you will not be distracted.
- Back on Task Signal: When you find your mind is drifting deliberately wiggle your toes (or do something else) to get you back on task.
- Stay Healthy: Stay healthy, drink less coffee and drink more water. Excessive caffeine consumption leads to you feeling irritable, tired and agitated
- Omega-3 Intake: Eat fish (omega-3) to boost brain memory and performance.
Vitamins to Improve Focus and Concentration
Apart from the 12 Natural Ways to Improve Focus/Concentration, you can supplement your diet with essential brain nutrients. There are several highly recommended brain supplements that provide the nutrients and vitamins to improve focus and concentration. Visit the Nervous System page to learn how the nervous system works. This page also provides recommended supplements for brain health and to focus better.
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