Are you finding it difficult to focus at work? Whether you run your own business, or you’re trying to get ahead in your 9-5, focus is crucial for your success. Unfortunately, focusing can be easier said than done. In this post, you’ll learn some top tips to help you stay focused for long periods of time, so you can get more done and have more free time on your hands.

Here are some ways you can improve your focus at work and home:

Be Prepared

If you know you need to tackle a boring or challenging task, take a few minutes to get prepared first. Make sure you’re not hungry, have some water close at hand, go to the bathroom, and if you’ve got a thousand things on your mind, make a to-do list. This will ensure that the tasks you need to tackle later are out of your mind and you have a ‘clean slate.’

Then, take a minute or two to just sit and breathe deeply. Let yourself calm down so you can feel more focused when you approach your work.

Remove distractions

It’s impossible to focus when you’re constantly being interrupted. Do yourself a favour and close out of your email. Put your phone on airplane mode and log out of your social media accounts. Another good option? There’s a great app called Self Control which will shut down the most distracting sites (you can add to these based on the sites that you have the most difficulty with). You won’t be able to access them for a set period of time, which can be excellent if you find yourself continually clicking away from your work.

Make it a priority

It’s all good and well to say you want to improve your focus, but this requires work and commitment. Whether you try something like Orion’s method or talk to a mindfulness expert, you’ll need to put in some solid effort.

There is a big reason why mindfulness is all the rage right now. Studies have shown that people who learn mindfulness and meditation are able to focus for longer periods of time (with better outcomes) than those who don’t. If you know you’re easily distracted, make a conscious effort to remove those distractions before you begin work. Tell your family you’re working and don’t want to be disturbed, or let your colleagues know you’ll reply to their emails later.