Do you ever find your mind wandering when you are performing certain tasks? Do you ever wish that you have more concentration or a longer attention span? There are many things that affect our attention spans however with a little practice, it is easy to increase your attention span to help you focus better.

Sleep

Sleep is an important factor in attention span. Many people fail to recognise the importance of sleep - it’s not just a time of rest; it’s a time which helps our body perform critical physiological functions. Everyone has different needs though, and this can make it hard to work out quite how much sleep you need. Experiment with different amounts of sleep and make a note of how energetic you feel the next day - soon you will be able to work out the optimum amount of sleep that you need.

Breakfast

The overnight fast leaves a lack of glucose in the body therefore it is imperative that you eat something healthy for breakfast to get your sugar levels up. Not eating until mid-morning or lunch leaves your body running on empty and this is really bad for your concentration. If possible, eat something which is fibre and protein rich to give your body the best possible start to the day.

Television

Ration the amount of TV you watch every day. Most TV is just a waste of time. If you have a channel with lots of ads, it breaks the continuity of the program, making you lose your concentration. You may also channel hop which helps makes you fidget and lose concentration.

The Internet

Limit your internet use (this one is easier said than done!) In reality, this depends on how much of your work life is reliant on the internet, but try and look for other ways to do your research and try to avoid sitting for hours on end, surfing in your spare time. The internet tends not to focus the mind, losing concentration.

Meditate

Meditation isn’t just for religious purposes - it is a fantastic way to train and focus the mind. Try to keep your mind as open and blank as possible to enable your mind to be still. You can use meditation as a time to concentrate on your body rhythm and breathing too.

Breaks

Take reward breaks away from your tasks. Breaks are usually distracting unless they are for a particular purpose, so give yourself something specific to do such as checking your e-mails or reading a book. This way, your break will be more fulfilling and keep your mind focused.

Books

Books are an excellent way to build up focus and concentration. Find books on topics that you enjoy - either fiction or non-fiction - but try to stay away from short stories or articles. As you read more, you will find that your concentration increases and you may soon be able to sit down for 4 or 5 hours reading without a break.

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