So you can’t focus on work 😴
Here’s how to get over it
Concentrating is hard.
Especially when you’re on a tight deadline and simply have no time to waste.
Suddenly working on a simple task takes forever. You probably read the same sentence twice already. You probably read the same sentence twice already.
Here are three reasons why you can’t focus, and how to get over them:
1. You are tired (and desperately need rest)
How many hours of sleep did you have last night?
If you answer less than five, try again.
As cliché as it sounds, lack of sleep drains your mental abilities, makes you prone to mood changes, and clouds your decision-making process.
In fact, we often make bad decisions when sleep-deprived.
So the next time you’re pulling an all-nighter and about to make an impulsive decision, try to sleep on it—pun intended—and try again in the morning.
2. You are multitasking
Quick question: how many browser tabs are you opening right now? Twelve? Twenty-five? Fifty?
Here’s the thing: multitasking doesn’t work.
In fact, when we are multitasking, we‘re not actually multitasking. We just switch between tasks back and forth.
Instead of making progress, we even work more slowly, which achieves the exact opposite of our goal in the first place.
Pro tip: try the Pomodoro technique, where you pick one task to work on and set a timer on it.
3. You are daydreaming
How long does it take you to realize that you are daydreaming?
One second you are typing something on your laptop, and the next you are planning a trip overseas.
Daydreaming is normal and has many positive effects. We even usually get the most brilliant ideas when daydreaming.
However, doing so when you desperately need to get things done might not be the brightest idea.
Pro tip: try to “catch” your mind when it starts wandering. The quicker you notice it wandering, the quicker you can get back on track.
Know of anyone who is just terrible at focusing on tasks at hand? This week’s Telescope by 180 might be of help to them!
Tell them about these three simple steps, who knows they will find them useful 😉