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Ten Unexpected Hacks To Help You Focus at Work

In the last article in Dr E’s series on creating a positive mindset in the workplace, she provides 10 simple suggestions to help set yourself up for success. 


If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’re procrastinating.


It’s ok. It happens to the best of us. Maybe you’re distracted, maybe you didn’t sleep well last night, or maybe you’ve put off the one thing you really don’t want to do and now you have no choice but just to do it.


If you’ve ever turned to doom-scrolling social media at work, you’ll often find a lot of talk about healthy things you can do to reduce stress and improve focus, things like going for a walk, taking a nap, exercising, etc. And while these are all excellent suggestions, what do they all have in common? They take time—the one thing you are usually short on during stress-inducing moments.


So, with that in mind, I’m happy to share what tends to work for me when my brain isn’t working as it should.


Ten Unexpected Hacks To Help You Focus at Work

  1. Change Your Environment. No one wants to be chained to a desk all day. Whether working from home or in the office—get up, move around, and find a different space to plug into for the task at hand.

  2. Listen Up. If the quiet of your workspace is deafening, try putting on some lo-fi beats or ambient noise (like brown noise) to fight brain fog and feel focused.

  3. Chew Gum. Help get the blood flowing to your brain by chewing on gum. Chewing cashew nuts has the added bonus of providing essential nutrients for brain health.

  4. Get Physical. If you don’t have time for a walk, try performing a few energizing stretches in your chair. You’ll wake up your body and calm your brain by releasing endorphins in the process.

  5. Doodle or Sketch. Drawing can help you relax by lowering cortisol levels and resetting your brain for concentration.

  6. Exercise Your Eyes. If your body is tired, imagine how your eyes must feel after staring at a screen all day. Practice the 20:20:20 rule to find relief and give your eyes a break. Every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

  7. Use Scent to Stimulate Focus. Certain scents, like peppermint and lemon, help energize the mind and improve mental clarity. Try having a cup of tea or keeping a bottle of essential oil on your desk for when you need a boost.

  8. Take "Two." When you really need to hunker down, remind yourself that you can do anything for two minutes. Set a timer and get to work. Sometimes, just the idea of doing something for a short time is enough to get your wheels turning and your mind back on track.

  9. Blow Bubbles. Seriously! Channel your inner kid and blow a few bubbles. It might make you laugh, but it also requires the deep breath you need to reset your brain.

  10. Drink Less Caffeine. This is a tough one for sure, but if you want to avoid the inevitable crash that comes from drinking too much caffeine (or worse - setting you up for a poor night of sleep), try hydrating with a glass of water or a bite of fresh fruit instead.


For overall health and well-being, we should absolutely strive for the big wins and long-lasting effects that come with proper self-care, but if you’re in a pinch, consider these quick fixes to help reset your mind and get you back to the task at hand.


My challenge to you: print out this list and experiment with a few this week when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Your hack might just become a new go-to stress-reducing habit.


 
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