Have you tried to work but it seems like something is holding you back from starting? Do tasks that you carry out on a normal day now seem difficult for you to do? Do you feel so distracted with so many mails, deadlines, family issues and even social media? Do you find it difficult to remember the tiniest details? Do you feel like you just can’t concentrate and you are wondering what’s going on with you? Here are 5 things that could be responsible for your lack of concentration:
- Stress
We sometimes feel stressed out when we have so much to do at a particular time. We should have it in mind though, that stress may not necessarily come up as a result of physical activities alone; one could experience psychological stress as a result of traumas or when the mind is burdened with a lot of thoughts. Stress could get worse than we think when we don't have enough rest and sleep.The ability to multitask is good, and for most of us, it’s a part of life ...but where do we draw the line between multitasking and overstressing ourselves?
Tips: Take a break once in awhile to relax. Take a walk, go on vacation, do something new, exercise, go see a movie, listen to good music, read a nice book, enjoy solitude once in awhile. Just do something that takes your mind off work and worries and keeps you alive. A 10 minutes walk could be all you need to relax after a long day. Above all, sleep well. There’s nothing as rejuvenating as a sound sleep.
- Your environment
The effect of environment on our productivity and state of mind cannot be overemphasized. A clumsy desk, inadequate ventilation, poor lighting, uncomfortable chairs and noise to name a few could affect your level of concentration.
Tips: Try to work in a clean, ventilated and bright environment with comfortable furniture. Discover what works well for you. For example, some people work well with distractions around while some cannot concentrate where there is noise. It all depends on what you feel comfortable with.
- Food
Not eating right could deprive you of some essential nutrients your body needs and leave you prone to diseases. Also, hunger and dehydration could slow you down make you focus less on the work at hand.
Tips: Take enough water, eat balanced diet and eat at the right time. You must have experienced at different times, a whole new energy to do something you found difficult before. Feeling tired? Food and water could just be the magic you need.
- Poor job satisfaction
Many people are stuck with jobs they don’t like and sometimes find it difficult to quit because they probably need the money. When you are not enjoying what you do, concentrating becomes a big deal. When you don’t have access to things that can keep you positively engaged, you tend to get tired easily irritated.
Tips: Yes, things will not always go the way we want in life. But in the midst of it all, discover your talents, find out what makes you tick and work towards doing things you love in any little way you can. In the midst of chaos, find out that thing that puts a smile on your face and just like one of my favourite quotes goes...’when life shows you pepper, make pepper soup’
- Lack of plan/ Improper planning
Each day comes with its unique opportunities, expectations and tasks. It’s easy to get everything mumbled up when we don’t really have a grasp of what we need to do and how to go about it. We fail to achieve much without a plan.
Tips: When faced with a lot of tasks, make sure you have an idea of what they are about, have a plan as per how you intend to carry them out. Also, learn to prioritize as some tasks may need urgent attention while some can wait.
It's time to get back on track!
