In a world that’s full of noise and activity, it can be hard to focus on the things that are important when you’re in the moment. From working on a project in the workplace to playing with your little ones at home without looking at your phone.
Having mental clarity and focus is something that’s important to have because it benefits many aspects of your life. If you’re looking to be more focused in the workplace or want to work on your mental wellbeing so you’re more present for things in life, then this guide will certainly help to improve both.
From reducing distractions to practicing time management techniques, here’s everything you need to gain more focus and mental clarity this year and beyond.
1. Take advantage of every hour of sleep you can get
Sleep is a beautiful thing, and it’s something you want to try and get as often as possible; otherwise, it can wreak havoc on your health and wellbeing in general.
You should try to get at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night, as this is the optimum time to give your body the rest it needs. If you’re having several hours of sleep, you’re likely to feel a lot more refreshed and alive.
Anyone who has ever had four or five hours of sleep will certainly recognize how different their body is and how it reacts throughout the day. With a lack of sleep, you’re likely to feel more run down and in need of rest, which is never going to benefit your focus and mental clarity either.
So with that being said, try to take advantage of every hour of sleep you can get your hands on. Try not to sacrifice sleep in place of anything else, especially if you have things coming up that you need to be ready and prepared for.
2. Move your body and have fun with it
Having fun while moving your body is important, and that’s why the exercise you give to your body needs to be something you enjoy. There’s nothing more painful than trying to do exercise that you’re not having fun with and ultimately makes you feel as though you’re doing some sort of unwanted chore.
Exercise should be enjoyed, and there’s a lot out there to try and to figure out what works for you best. Consider what exercises or classes you’ve tried out, as well as sports, to see what suits you best.
Try to think outside of the box, aka look at all the classes and types of exercises that you’ve not explored yet. Chances are, you’ll find something that you love and that you’ll want to do more of because you actually enjoy the way it makes you feel both during and after.
3. Eat a well-balanced diet and moderate your food intake
Moderating your food is important, and it’s the best way of managing your weight because you’re calorie counting and giving enough nourishment to your body that it needs.
You shouldn’t really be on a diet that cuts certain foods out, especially those that you love and perhaps are considered more indulgent than others. The reason for this is that it’s not sustainable. If you loved eating those foods before, then the chances of you cutting them out for good are slim. That’s why it’s important to work on a diet that’s realistic to your needs and wants.
After all, you only live once, so you should be able to enjoy the food that you love to eat, too. A well-balanced diet is an important part of living, too, which is why you should look at making sure your intake of food is full of vegetables, fruit, meat or plant protein where applicable, and of course, the more indulgent food on occasion.
By eating a well-balanced diet that’s not restrictive, you’ll end up having a healthier and happier relationship with food as a result.
4. Keep your mind engaged with games
It’s always good to keep the mind engaged with games. Whether it’s doing a word search or playing chess with friends. There are a lot of benefits that come with playing games, from classic board games to the wealth of games now available online.
Engaging your mind is important to finding focus and giving yourself some mental self-care. There’s a lot in life that can get overwhelming at times, which is why it’s helpful to have outlets like online games to play your favorite classics on.
While games online are fun, you might also want to take that fun outside. There are plenty of games nowadays that combine nature with gaming, too, such as Pokémon Go, for example.
Connecting with nature is helpful for your mental health, and combining that with a bit of entertainment while sitting on a park bench can be great for the soul.
5. Practice mindfulness and try meditation
Practicing mindfulness is always something that can be beneficial to your health and well-being. It’s good to check in with oneself and be aware of the wonderful things you have to be grateful for and to refocus on when you find yourself becoming disconnected or disenfranchised with your attitude towards work or even your personal life.
Meditation can also be good for your health, but so few people do it because they don’t necessarily understand its benefits or can keep still to do it often enough. Practicing meditation forces you to be in one place and to concentrate on your own breath and mind for a little while.
Join a meditation class if you’re not sure where to start with meditation. That way, you’ll find helpful tips and practices to transfer to it for your own use in your home alone.
6. Reduce your distractions
Distractions are everywhere, and it’s perhaps more challenging than ever to concentrate on what you’re doing. That’s why you should look to remove those distractions by whatever means possible.
If you’re working from home, for example, try to lock yourself away in a room that you’re not going to get regularly distracted from by other household members.
It might be worth putting a block on certain apps that often have you doom-scrolling for minutes on end, and before you know it, you’ve procrastinated for a good part of an hour. Try to identify where these distractions are coming from, both when it comes to your personal life and your work life, in order to stay on top of everything you’re trying to manage and maintain.
7. Manage your time effectively
Managing your time effectively is important, and it’s therefore useful to look at what ways that are most effective for helping maximize the time you do have. Both personally and professionally, of course.
Setting realistic goals, for example, in your working day, is going to help make your tasks more manageable and likely to get checked off if it’s realistic in its approach. Look to take regular breaks throughout the day in order to avoid burnout from occurring. The more burnt out you get, the more damaging that can be to your health.
If you struggle with time management, don’t forget that there are plenty of apps out there that you can take advantage of in the meantime.
Mental clarity and focus are a luxury to have in this active and digital-led world we now live in. Everything that is more complex requires more effort, which, for many of us, can be exhausting to maintain. Try to find a balance where you can and use these tips to help improve your own mental clarity and focus this year.
