7 Top Tips to Improve Your Focus at Work

In this world full of distractions, employees find it harder to focus on work. They do well at the starting point, up until something disrupts them.

Instead of delivering results requested by the client, they end up doing something else.

Needless to say, this loss of focus can hamper business performance.

The good news is it's easy to regain your focus. All you need to do is follow these seven proven-effective tips from the evidence-based coaches of Gram Consulting Group.

Specialise in Some Exercise

Although your brain is not a muscle, this organ needs some exercise, too.

Exercise, for one, will help enhance your concentration. According to a report, it can improve attention span and executive control.

Exercise is also good for the hippocampus, which is the brain's centre for learning and memory.

What's great is that you don't have to spend a lot of time to reap these benefits. You can improve your focus with a mere 10 minutes of exercise.

Good workouts to try include yoga, swimming, and cycling.

Change Your Diet to Intermittent Fasting

Authority figures like Neil Patel stand by intermittent fasting (IF) and its benefits for the brain.

IF involves fasting for 16 hours and eating only for eight. It might seem counterintuitive for most because it's hard to do meaningful work if you're starving.

But it's not the case, according to highly experienced humans specialising in brain studies.

In fact, a CNBC report stated that IF helps clear the mind. It also boosts brain functioning by awakening all your senses.

How is this possible? According to highly experienced humans with a deep understanding of IF, it prods the brain to produce more natural growth factors. These are substances the brain cells need to thrive and survive.

Simply put, the healthier your brain cells are, the better your focus will be on work content.

To reap the benefits of IF, skip your breakfast and lunch and only eat during dinner time.

Eat Good Fats, According to Academics and Evidence-Based Coaches

For the longest time, many coaching experts have advocated against eating fats. This teaching is indeed relevant, especially if your endpoint is to lose weight.

That said, it's not sustainable to avoid all kinds of fats. You still need to eat the good ones. Remember: your brain is mostly (60%) made from fat.

One of the healthiest fat sources is oily fish. It's rich in essential fatty acids (EFA) that promote healthy brain function. EFA is also suitable for facilitating stress relief and boosting mood.

If you're a vegan, there are vegetarian sources with good fat content. Examples include chia, flaxseed, and hemp.

List Your Relevant Duties Every Hour

Working for the most prominent companies entails a lot of tasks. It's easy to get sidetracked from your activities because you do so many other things.

According to organisational psychologists, employees may avoid this by listing tasks. It's as simple as jotting down your business activities for the hour and timing yourself until you finish them.

Listing your activities will help your brain focus on the more essential things. By timing yourself, you'll feel a sense of urgency to do the things you need to do.

Ignore the Chatter Unless It's Business-Related

Evidence-based coaches often tell managers not to let their employees be distracted. That said, it's easier said than done.

For one, there's the ever-handy smartphone. One moment, you're on the browser surfing LinkedIn; the next, you're chatting with friends. Before you know it, you've wasted all your time doing non-business-related stuff.

If you want to improve your focus, you need to change your habits.

You can start by setting your phone in airport mode. It will also help to mute the notifications on your phone and computer.

Sleep is Important

"Sleep is for the weak" is such a misnomer.

For one, Gram Consulting Group coaches know how bad sleep deprivation is.

Because your brain cells are unable to recover, they don't function as well as they do. They can quickly become overworked, even with very little activity.

If you want to maintain laser-sharp focus, try to get at least seven hours of sleep every day.

Try Some Nootropics

Nootropics are brain enhancers—substances that help improve concentration, alertness, and memory. They work by facilitating blood flow to the brain.

With more oxygen and nutrients, your brain gets to function better.

Most nootropics are artificial and full of side effects. Fortunately, there are many natural nootropics you could try:

• Caffeine. Your morning cup of coffee or tea blocks cyclic adenosine monophosphate, a substance that makes you feel tired.

• L-theanine. Present in tea, this substance helps your brain achieve a state of relaxed alertness.

• Ashwagandha. This herb may help relieve the stress and other factors that cloud your focus.

• Ginkgo Biloba. This traditional herb is known to boost mental functioning and overall wellness.

If your employees continue to lose focus despite all these tips, then it's time to call the experts at Gram Consulting Group. Staffed by excellent organisational psychologists, they can help your business flourish.

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