Every adult knows how busy life can be, especially due to the increasing work responsibilities many of us have. Whether you work in an office, at home, or in the field, it’s likely you work at least eight hours a day. And that means eight hours of concentration and focus!
Normally, when we are working, our minds can wander. On average, at least 30% of our time is spent daydreaming and thinking about something other than the work in front of us. While mind-wandering can be beneficial for creativity, it can be detrimental when you’re trying to concentrate on a task. This is no surprise when you consider how difficult it can be to fully focus on a single thing for several hours.
If you’re struggling to stay focused on your important tasks during the day, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve rounded up some of the best tips that will help to improve your focus and reduce daydreaming while you’re trying to work.
Start the Day With Healthy Protein
Most of us eat toast or cereal for breakfast. While carbohydrates are great to provide a quick burst of energy, we can often experience an energy crash just a few hours later if we’re not careful. Instead of choosing the carb-heavy breakfasts, go for foods that are high in protein instead.
Protein is the most satiating macronutrient, so it will keep you fuller for longer. This means that you won’t be hungry mid-morning and you will be able to focus all of your attention on your work (and not on your rumbling stomach).
Great high protein breakfast foods include eggs, Greek yoghurt, cottage cheese, or protein powder pancakes.
Regularly Break for Exercise
Studies show that taking breaks during the work day can reduce stress and help to maintain a high level of performance. Use your breaks to exercise and move your body in a gentle way. This can boost your energy levels by providing your body and brain with a short break to rest and recuperate before you resume the hard work.
During your work shift, make sure to take a short break every hour. Even a quick five-minute walk will do the trick to get your body moving and allow your eyes to take a break from the harsh computer screens.
If you can, try to get outside so that you can feel the sun on your skin and breathe in the fresh air.
Have a Fixed Sleep Routine
Sleep is essential to work performance. Failing to rest properly each night can lead to fatigue and poor concentration during the day time.
By establishing a regular sleep routine, you can ensure that you get optimal rest. Aim for 7-9 hours a night, with regular cycles between non-REM and REM sleep. When your sleep cycles between these two phases, you will fall into a deeper, more restful sleep that will help you to feel energised when you wake up in the mornings.
To maximise your sleep quality, avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol several hours before bed, reduce your blue light exposure during the evenings, and keep your bedroom nice and cool.
Boost Beneficial B Vitamins
B vitamins play an essential role in energy metabolism, so they are crucial to help your brain get the energy that it needs when you are trying to focus. Deficiencies in just one of the B vitamins can lead to a lack of energy and reduced ability to concentrate.
Aside from energy production, some of the B vitamins also play a key role in oxygen transportation. In particular, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), folic acid (vitamin B9), and vitamin V12 are essential for this process. Without these vitamins, less oxygen would be carried to your brain and tissues, and you could end up feeling very lethargic.
Our Energy Release supplement contains a highly absorbable form of each B vitamin (seven in total) to ensure you are getting adequate amounts of each essential nutrient.
You can also obtain lots of the B vitamins through foods. Dietary sources of the B vitamins include meat, seafood, eggs, legumes, seeds, leafy greens, and nutritional yeast.
Final Thoughts
Following the top tips above will help you to keep your stress levels down and your focus up! You might find that one particular method works better for you than the others. If so, make sure to implement these things into your daily routine to help you stay focused on your work throughout the day.
