Healthy Living Tips, Nutrition And Healthy Living Guide

How many times has this happened to you? It’s a special occasion, and you’ve somehow managed to secure reservations at the hottest restaurant in town. You’re full of happy anticipation as you drive along the freeway and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, traffic slows to a crawl. After creeping along for what seems like hours, you finally reach the source of the slowdown: a minor “fender bender” in the opposite lanes of traffic. For some reason, hundreds of your fellow drivers had become so distracted by this that they lost focus and concentration, and as a result, you’ve lost your precious dinner reservations!

Life certainly provides plenty of distractions, and as the above scenario illustrates, it can be very easy to lose focus. But how do you explain not being able to concentrate when you’re sitting at home or in your office with no outside distractions, and yet you still can’t seem to finish a task that you’ve started? The inability to focus or concentrate affects even the most disciplined of people (with the possible exception of the superhuman Tiger Woods). Here are some reasons why you might be having trouble staying in sharp focus:

Inadequate sleep:
Many experts recommend 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep daily, and even more for growing kids. And yet, more than 60 million people in the United States experience sleep-related complaints. Many poor sleepers don’t know that they have a problem because their bodies have adjusted. Your body may be willing, but you can’t fool your brain. Brain fatigue will rob you of the focus and concentration you need to perform at your peak.

Boredom or lack of interest:
Your concentration may be fading simply because you just aren’t interested enough in what you’re supposed to be concentrating on. It can be pretty difficult to muster up enthusiasm for plugging endless numbers into a spreadsheet, or for attacking your daily chores.

Stress and frustration:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by difficult or worrisome issues, it can be almost impossible to zone in on one task without being distracted by the weight of your other unfinished business.

Medical causes:
Talk to your doctor if you suspect you may be dealing with one of these issues:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) : This disorder involves abnormal brain chemistry, affecting your ability to focus and concentrate. Although usually encountered in children, ADHD can affect adults as well.
• Thyroid Problems : Although difficult to diagnose, feeling restless and anxious, being unable to concentrate, and having a poor memory could all indicate thyroid trouble.
• Diabetes : Your brain requires a constant flow of glucose for energy, which it receives from your blood. If your blood sugar levels are elevated or crashing, you’ll be left feeling tired and unable to focus.
• Depression : When you’re depressed, it can be nearly impossible to think clearly, or to find the energy and motivation to concentrate.

So what can you do to regain sharp focus and concentration? If you have a medical condition, you owe it to yourself to seek professional help. And for the rest of you, try these helpful tips!

• Get more sleep. Either get to bed earlier or take a mid-afternoon power nap, and you’ll dissipate that brain fog.
• Banish boredom . Research shows that concentration drops after 20 to 30 minutes, so take frequent breaks, making sure to get out of your chair to keep blood flowing to your brain. Bribe yourself with a reward once you finish your task. Treating yourself will feel extra good because you’ll also have the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a job well done.
• Get organized . Make sure that you have everything you need to complete the task at hand. If you’re poorly prepared, the extra time and effort needed to get the job done will make you lose focus more easily. Don’t distract yourself by trying to work with the television or radio on, or with your computer’s instant messaging program running.

• Write it down . If you can’t get unfinished tasks out of your head, write them down so you’re free to stop obsessing over them. Your to-do list should include an estimate of how much time it will take for each item. That will really help you to prioritize your day.
• Fight through frustration to help manage stress. In the same way that champion athletes can get their second wind, you can fight through mental frustration to find renewed focus. From now on, if you’re in the middle of a task and tempted to give up, noted author and lecturer Sam Horn recommends that you just do five more. Read five more pages. Finish five more math problems. Work five more minutes.
• Don’t procrastinate . As R.D. Clyde said, “It’s amazing how long it takes to complete something we’re not working on.” Delaying a task will only make it occupy more of your mind and time.

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