It’s late morning, or maybe mid afternoon. You are working on three big projects, one is due today, and the other two by the end of the week. You’ve got plenty to do, but are finding your self easily distracted and not able to focus on the task at hand.

You are looking for ways to improve your attention span, and you need them to work like right now.

Stick around. I’ve got you covered.

I’ve got some quick tips for improving your focus in the moment. There are things that you can do today that will help in the moment, and there are things that you can do over time that will help to build improve your attention span and concentration. In this article, I am going to share some strategies that you can use right now. Give me seven minutes.

Here are 4 quick tips to help improve your focus and concentration. I’d love to hear from you. What strategies are you already using? What works for you? What strategies are you planning to work into your goals? Please be sure to leave a comment below.

Take a break

First things first, give your brain a break from your task. It can be hard to walk away from your project when you have hit your flow. Take frequent breaks to keep your mental energy up. Step away from your desk long enough to get a drink of water or walk around the office. Get up and move around. Increasing your heart rate will improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to your brain. Stimulate different neural networks.

Have a healthy snack

In addition to oxygen, your brain needs glucose to carry on neural processes.
Choose a snack that is high in omega 3 fatty acids or that is high in fiber that will digest slowly providing long term energy rather than sugary snacks that provide a short term spike and dip that will just make it harder to focus later in the day.

Straighten up your workspace

I know, right? I’m not trying to give you another project. Take just a moment or two to straighten up some. Clutter can be a distraction.

Watch these two short videos

For a simple sustained attention breathing exercise you can use right now to improve your focus. Quiet your monkey mind. Take a deep breath. And then Dr. Mandell will show you how to use reflexology to reset your brain. Pinch your thumb like this.

You’ve had a snack, gave your brain a little break, gave your monkey mind something to do, rebooted your brain with Dr. Mandell and straightened up your workspace. Feel better? Good.

Take this parting tip – Switch tasks instead of trying to multitask. It makes more efficient use of your time and energy.

I’ve got a list of long term tactics to building your attention span. It’s the next big article in the works. Be sure to check back in the future. I’ll put a link to it right here.

Don’t Blame Me

Seriously. I am not a medical professional. I am not a counselor. The information in this article is based on my research and personal experiences as a Learning Coach for my son who is gifted, but deals with attention related obstacles. The strategies here are intended for anyone; but may not work for everyone. I suggest contacting your doctor if you have concerns that your attention difficulties are related to a medical disorder. I have included a list of articles that you may find helpful. I’m sharing the information I have found, and a list of links to some of the sources that I used in my research for you to also refer to. I encourage you to do your research on any of the ideas that you take from this article. Make sure I have the facts right.

It is important to me that I deliver factual information instead of just spreading more misinformation from sources that have an underlying goal in the articles they have written. I’ve put my time and due diligence into cross-referencing and searching out factual validation for as much of what I am presenting to you as possible. I’ve been down so many rabbit holes that I lost count.

I want to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. I want to know what works for you and what does not.