FOCUS! What can you do to become more efficient at work?

Friday: Mindfulness by Miles FROM THE DESK OF MILES EVERSON: Hi, everyone! Let’s start the day with a mindfulness tip. Every Friday, I talk about a topic or event that I find useful in my daily life. I hope my experiences and personal interests can also help you improve in your personal life or career. Today, I’m focusing on the topic of concentration. I believe it’s important to talk about this because it’s crucial in the world of work. Ready to know some ways to improve your focus and eventually, your productivity? For those of you who are flailing a bit in this aspect, I encourage you to keep reading the article below. This will help boost your energy so you can be more efficient at work. CEO, MBO Partners Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute

FOCUS! What can you do to become more efficient at work? Have you tried burning a piece of paper or leaf using a magnifying glass? If you observe, fire could only be ignited when the sun’s rays through the magnifying glass are focused on a small point. If you move the magnifying glass too far away or too close to the paper or leaf, the sun’s rays get scattered and nothing happens. This experiment shows how the power of concentration works. When applied in the context of your profession, this skill enables you to focus your attention on a single thought or activity, and accomplish the task at hand. As Norman Vincent Peale, author of the bestselling book, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” said: “When every physical and mental resource is focused, one’s power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously.” In other words, the power of concentration manifests as focused attention on a certain task or activity. This is vital, especially if you’re aspiring to be more efficient and take charge of your life. As someone who’s been in the world of work for over 3 decades now, I can say my concentration is not always steady. There are days when I feel extra passionate and determined to accomplish tasks or projects, and there are also days when I feel like my mind is lagging and I finish my work longer than usual. I’m telling you: During days when my concentration is wavering, I feel frustrated and a bit disappointed. It’s as if I’ve wasted a lot of precious time just because I couldn’t focus enough. That’s why for me, concentration is vital for every kind of success. Without it, our efforts get scattered, but with it, we can accomplish great things. One of the ways to improve our cognitive function is to clean and organize our diet. Since most of our energy comes from the food we eat, it’s important that we’re mindful of the dishes and snacks we consume daily. As much as possible, focus on nutrient-dense food that feeds your brain. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk products, seafood, eggs, peas, beans, nuts, and more. With the help of a healthy diet, you can avoid brain fog in the long run and get your mind to work on point. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for concentration hacks that provide almost instant results, read on. I’m sharing some non-diet-related tips that help me improve my focus too. Keep your surroundings clean. Your environment has a lot to do with your concentration. Personally, I prefer working in a clean and organized environment because it helps me avoid distractions and keeps me focused at work. … but keep in mind that there’s no exact formula for an ideal work setup. What works for you might not work for someone else. What works for someone else might not work for you. Examples: Ambient noise can spark some people’s creativity and focus, while others may need noise-canceling headphones. Some people thrive in the chaos of a messy desk, while others need an advanced filing system and a squeaky clean environment. Simply said, it all depends on a person’s preference! As for you, figure out your ideal workspace. This will not only help you get more work done, but also make you feel happier and more inspired as you do your job. Take care of your eyes. In today’s technological era, many parts of the world are flooded with blue-light-emitting fluorescents and electronic devices. I’m sure almost everyone knows the consequences of this. Blue lights cause eye fatigue and accelerate eye aging. No wonder I see a lot of young people nowadays wearing corrective lenses. If you’re looking for ways to prevent damaging your eyes, I suggest you move your computer away from artificial light and towards a window or any area where you can get a natural light source. I understand that many of us are working using our desktops or laptops so for me, this is the least we can do to protect our eyes. If the weather is nice, you may also want to work outside. Soaking up on a much-needed vitamin D is good for your eyes and will keep you extra energized. Lastly, try to limit your screen exposure as much as possible. When it’s time for bed, refrain from fidgeting with your phone or any other electronic device. This will also help you get better sleep throughout the night. Develop brain-friendly work habits. I strongly believe that as professionals, we need to develop healthy habits so we can constantly improve our skills and achieve greater successes in the long run. Whether your habit is in the form of planning your day in advance, timing your concentration blocks, taking notes about work announcements or updates, exercising, taking regular breaks, or others, you have to make sure they are beneficial for your career and lifestyle. Besides, habits aid in concentration. Once you’ve adopted a certain task or activity into your system, it’ll be easier to focus. What’s more? Habits also help you spend less energy sorting things throughout your day. By having a well-defined routine, you reserve your energy and focus for the actual tasks that you need to accomplish. I hope these tips resonate with you! Keep in mind that better concentration means more efficient work, and more efficient work translates to less stress and a better life. By mastering concentration, you’ll experience a range of benefits and open doors to more opportunities and possibilities that are good not only for your career but also for your overall wellbeing. Have a great day and advance happy weekend, everyone! Follow us on LinkedIn.