By John Rampton
Pinging phones. Dinging computers. Intrusive thoughts. Modern-day life is filled with distractions. Without a doubt, the problem of concentrating can affect anyone. Nearly three-quarters of high performers struggle with distracting thoughts at least part of the time, according to a survey by Harvard Business Review. That means that even your go-getter, Type-A colleague, or boss probably deals with distractions, too.The solution, of course, is figuring out how to make your distractions fade into background noise. Sure, you can turn off your phone and shut down your laptop. But unless you put some other specific measures into place, your mind will probably fall into unwanted “Squirrel!” moments. You’ll fall into the belief that you just can’t keep your grey matter in the game.
Take Control of Your Schedule
More isn’t more. It’s less, especially when it comes to an overworked calendar. A recent opinion piece from The New York Times suggests that overpacking a kids’ schedule doesn’t reap rewards. Instead, the author points out that it just makes life more hectic for children. She notes that when they’re overburdened with activities, they can fall into mental health traps, as well as social ones.You might not be a youngster anymore, but you can take a note from her arguments: Pare down your commitments. For instance, open up your calendar right now. Is it ridiculously jam-packed? Think like a triage nurse and begin categorizing what’s important versus what’s not.
As you contemplate each responsibility, ask yourself if someone else could take your place. Alternatively, is everything honestly necessary? Understanding what’s “nice to complete” and what’s “essential to complete” helps you whittle away your duties. When your to-do list is leaner, you can focus more on each item instead of rushing.
Dive Into The Practice of Meditation
Practicing meditation techniques can be royally challenging, especially for people accustomed to living 100 miles-per-hour. Nevertheless, meditating can help you reduce your overall stress levels and soothe a fast-burning mind.You don’t have to get to a yoga studio to meditate, either. You can simply go through some basic exercises that will help you gather your thoughts. A highly rated five-minute meditation technique involves closing your eyes and relaxing your body. Let your mind roam freely for a full five minutes. Don’t attempt to lead your brain in any particular direction.
Prioritize Your Sleep Hygiene
You know you should be getting a good night’s rest. Unfortunately, 11 percent of adults admit that they never get the sleep they need. And 70 percent have sleep problems at least once monthly. Being sleep-deprived, even a little, can eat away your ability to focus. Remember: You’re not in college as a full-time student anymore. Pulling all-nighters may seem reasonable, but it causes your mind to get into “dull mode.”Of course, figuring out how to get enough sleep can seem harder than catching photos of the Loch Ness Monster. One solution is to start practicing sleep hygiene. That is, begin to apply consistent steps to your bedtime routine.
An example of a solid sleep hygiene regimen might be to read for 20 minutes before going to bed at 11:00 p.m. Then, set your alarm for 6:00 a.m. and avoid hitting the snooze. Even if you have trouble falling asleep right away, you shouldn’t give up. Within three weeks of consistently practicing your sleep routine, your body will adjust. You’ll feel less distracted during your daily activities as a result of getting a great snooze.
You can’t avoid all distractions in your life. Nonetheless, you can keep a lot of them from eating away at your personal and professional satisfaction.
