{"id":6245,"date":"2020-01-21T11:50:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T17:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/?p=6245"},"modified":"2020-03-10T11:52:26","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T16:52:26","slug":"5-things-to-do-when-youre-having-trouble-focusing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/5-things-to-do-when-youre-having-trouble-focusing\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things To Do When You’re Having Trouble Focusing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Stop us if this sounds familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve got work to do. A lot of it. Deadlines are looming, colleagues and clients are expecting you to deliver results, and you\u2019re rapidly running out of time to get things done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet for some reason, even knowing this, you find yourself distracted. You spend hours laughing at memes on Facebook. Trawling Wikipedia for information you don\u2019t need and will. Watching Netflix, cleaning your house, and doing just about everything except work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re distracted. You can\u2019t focus, and it\u2019s starting to wear on you. Let\u2019s talk about how you can regain your focus and get back to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make A List<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, think about what you have to get done. Using a project management tool like Trello or Airtable, make some checklists detailing the work you need to get done. Figure out which tasks are the most important, and get to those first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can help you break down what might otherwise be an overwhelming quantity of work into more easily-digestible, easily-manageable chunks. Plus, the satisfaction of checking off items on your to-do list can be a pretty powerful motivator to get to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cut Out Your Distractions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As noted in productivity management publication Rescue Time, there is no such thing as multitasking<\/a>. If you\u2019re constantly jumping between multiple projects and tasks, it might feel like you\u2019re doing more. What you\u2019re actually doing is repeatedly interrupting your focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, those constant interruptions will catch up to you. You\u2019ll likely start to feel distracted, unmotivated, and drained. You might even feel outright overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re working, do away with distractions. Put your phone on silent. Avoid watching movies or listening to podcasts, and instead, put on instrumental music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basically, eliminate everything that could possibly distract you from getting things done, then dive face-first into your work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Harvard Health Publishing, regular exercise has a physical effect on the brain<\/a>. It helps your memory, enhances cognitive function, and improves your mood. For that reason, if you\u2019re having trouble getting anything done, get up from your desk and get moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go for a run or a bike ride. Take your dog for a walk. Go for a swim. Basically, engage in some physical activity you enjoy, break a sweat, and take a break from work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to getting the blood flowing, exercise has the added benefit of allowing you to step away from your work and the stress it entails. It lets you mull over whatever creative blocks you\u2019re fighting against. And after the exercise is done, it feels good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat, Drink, And Think<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your body is essentially an advanced biological machine. As with any machine, if you don\u2019t put in the necessary effort to maintain it, you aren\u2019t going to be running at peak efficiency. With that in mind, if you\u2019re having trouble working, take a step back and ask yourself when you last ate or drank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to health publication Healthline<\/em><\/a>, you should drink about two liters of water a day. We\u2019d wager most people don\u2019t get that much, nor do they pay much attention to their diet. You need to focus on eating food that\u2019s healthy and filling rather than fast food; grease simply isn\u2019t good for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As noted in another post on Healthline<\/a>, foods that are particularly bad for you include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n