Have a big assignment at work or a paper due for school? Can’t seem to finish them because you’re thinking about the upcoming weekend? Or constantly checking your social media pages? It seems that a lot of us having trouble staying in the present. Here are six tips to help us focus:

1. Cut Off the Noise

It may be obvious that distractions aren’t helping your focus, but do you actually cut them out? Put your phone on silent, turn the television off and end the background noise.

Getting into a state of concentration can take at least fifteen minutes. If you are getting distracted every five, you can’t possibly focus entirely on your work. Answer your e-mails at scheduled times. Request that people don’t interrupt you when working on a big project. If you are required to answer phones and drop-in’s immediately, schedule work when the office is less busy.

2. Create gadget-free zones

Going hand in hand with noise distraction, cellphones, computers and other wireless devices create a big distraction. While our gadgets are meant to save us time, many times they actually waste it. For many of us, cell phones have become another appendage. And this can be detrimental to our attention spans (and our relationships!). Create areas like your living room or your kitchen table as gadget-free zones.

3. Set a Deadline

Deadlines have both advantages and disadvantages when trying to force concentration. A deadline can make it easier to forget the non-essential and speed up your working time. If you give yourself only an hour to complete a task, you will keep it simple and avoid fiddling with extravagant designs.

Time limits have disadvantages when they cause you to worry about the time you have left instead of the task itself. Some advice when using deadlines:

* Time is limited. If you only have a day to complete work that could easily take weeks, chunking it into specific deadlines will strip away everything that isn’t crucial.

* It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. If your task could easily expand to have new features or ideas, use a deadline to keep it under control.

* To avoid procrastination. A tight deadline can save you if you are worried about procrastinating.

4. Establish a to-do list

To-do lists not only help you prioritize what tasks you need to get done first, but they can also serve as a record of the loose ends. Having a recording of all the things you still need to do can help you stay focused on the upcoming task. If you don’t create one, incomplete work could eat away at your concentration.

5. Get a good night’s sleep

One of the main symptoms of chronic sleep loss is poor concentration. Getting a solid seven to eight hours ahead of a busy work day could be the difference between being frazzled and being laser-focused.

6. Try a small amount of caffeine

If you’re feeling groggy, grab a cup of coffee or other caffeinated substance. Studies suggest that caffeine may, in moderate doses, help to boost focus — particularly in those of us who are fatigued. But don’t get overzealous with the coffee, or you might get the caffeine jitters, which typically reduce your ability to concentrate.

If you are having trouble concentrating because you’re needing help with a recent automobile accident or other personal injury related incidents, let Core Rehab help you. Call us at 702-577-1962.

Sources:  http://psychcentral.com/lib/12-foolproof-tips-for-finding-focus/ http://time.com/4110080/stay-focused-strategy/