How to Concentrate and Get Stuff Done

How to concentrate and get stuff done

“Sorry to bother you. Just a quick question?” It’s another interruption. From the pings of emails and text messages to a tap on the shoulder, we live in a world of distractions.

We even interrupt ourselves to watch a quick video or computer game. These mental breaks can derail your creative energies and deep thinking. 

Get in the zone and stay there

When your mental focus is sharp and creative ideas come quickly, we call it “being in the zone.” Whether planning a vacation or producing a report, putting your talents to work feels good.

So why do we switch activities an average of every three minutes and five seconds, according to Fast Company? Suddenly, you’ve left your task to read social media or look at the weather for the weekend.

Switching activities mid-stream creates stress, frustration, and negativity and lowers productivity. Plus, it can take 23 minutes to return to refocus your efforts, according to a study by Gloria Mark at the University of California at Irvine. 

So how do you get focused and stay focused?

Feed your brain

Before you start, have a drink of TruLabs Energy + Focus. You can choose from three delicious flavors: Frost, Blackberry Lemonade, and Orange Pineapple. Drink half about 20 minutes before you start working for a quick boost of energy. Sip the rest while you work to avoid hunger or thirst.

Energy + Focus has Guarana Extract, a plant-based caffeine that can help reduce fatigue, boost energy, and aid learning and memory. It also supports your concentration with antioxidants and 16 nutrients and extracts.  

Next, set up uninterrupted periods to work on just one thing. Add these “Focus Time” hours to your calendar so other meetings won’t bump them.

Set up for success

To get started:

• Next, tell your co-workers (or family) that you won’t be available for 30 minutes — make that your “Focus Time.”
• Move to a quiet area or wear headphones to block out the noise.
• Hang up the Do Not Disturb sign, either physically or digitally. 
• Turn off alerts, close your email program, and set your phone on silent or turn it off. 
• When urged to switch tasks or check email, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that this is focus time, and everything else can wait.

You can also try the Pomodoro technique. Select one task to work on first. Before you start, set a timer to go off in 25 minutes. Then don’t look at the clock. After 25 minutes, you can take a five-minute break and start again.

Keep your energy up

Drinking caffeinated beverages in small doses may help you focus, according to a 2010 study. However, you should avoid caffeine in the late afternoon to not hinder the sleep you need. You need seven hours of sleep for maximum memory and concentration during the day.

Because Guarana Extract is a slow-release, plant-based caffeine, one drink of Energy + Focus gives you up to six hours of energy with no crashes or jitters. It contains adenine, ribose, and phosphate to help your body create energy at the cellular level, DMAE to support mental focus, and Acetyl-L-Carnitine to enhance brain function.

 

Clear your mind

If you are distracted by mental clutter, clear it out. Make a to-do list of other things on your mind, even concerns for the future. Once they are on the list, put it away and deal with it afterward. 

Be sure that list includes ordering plenty of Energy + Focus. 

SOURCES

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/tips-to-improve-concentration

https://www.fastcompany.com/944128/worker-interrupted-cost-task-switching

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-time-youre-really-wasting-at-work-2015-7

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/how-to-stay-focused#take-breaks

https://www.ics.uci.edu/~gmark/chi08-mark.pdf

Disclaimer: The information provided in these blog posts is not intended as medical advice. While this post may include links to TruLabs products, it may also contain external links to websites or articles. Please note that the inclusion of these links does not necessarily signify endorsement of any specific product or website by TruLabs.