Key Takeaways

• Many people are finding it difficult to focus in these stressful times.
• Our usual routines have been disrupted, and it may be tough to get back on course.
• Try these five habits to get into the right state of mind.

This past year has brought with it a number of new stressors and challenges. Even if you’ve weathered the year quite well, chances are you’ve found your usual routine disrupted and you’ve had to make a number of changes to habits that might have worked well for you during non-pandemic times. Add to that, many of us are Zoom weary and miss being able to socialize with friends and extended family.

With these changes, you likely have a different state of mind than you did just a year ago. And that new state of mind often makes it tough to stay focused. If you’re looking for inspiration to manage this, an article by Minda Zetlin outlines five habits that can help you stay focused.

Number one, take care of physical needs. Make sure you’re addressing six things in particular: the food you eat, the water you drink, the air you breathe, the sun that you take in, the exercise you do, and your sleep. If you’re taking care of these six things, your body will be in the right state for your mind to focus.

Number two, plan for escape behaviors. Your escape behaviors are the things you tend to do when you find yourself getting distracted and bored: checking social media, snacking, and getting tired, for example. If you plan for these behaviors by doing such things as turning mobile devices off, making sure you have healthy snacks, and standing up to stretch, you’ll be more likely to successfully stay focused on the task at hand. Give some thought to what your particular escape behaviors are – and then put measures in place to minimize them.

Number three, plan regular breaks. We know from studies that, while working, you’ll want to take a ten minute break every hour. By ignoring breaks and working non-stop for hours, you’ll lose the ability to keep going. So plan for breaks and think of it as a quick recharge of your batteries.

Number four, give binaural beat technology or a hapbee band a try. These are newer technologies that may help you stay focused. Binaural beat technology is the use of auditory tones to adjust your brainwaves to put you in a more focused state of mind. They can help to calm and relax you, and you can find them on Spotify or YouTube, among other places. Hapbee bands are wearable devices that also help with relaxation and tuning out distractions.

Number five, forgive yourself for losing focus. Everything has changed. The habits that worked for you in the past may have gone by the wayside as you’ve had to adjust to new ways of doing things. So give yourself a break. You’re not unlike a kid, going back to school, learning all new things.

Hopefully these techniques will work for you. But remember to allow yourself some grace and don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not as efficient or as focused as you were in the past. Pat yourself on your back for doing what you can and adjusting to new ways. Until next time, enjoy.

Gary

Gary Klaben serves as a Financial Advisor, and visionary for Coyle Financial Counsel. He has over 30 years of experience and is the author of Changing the Conversation, Wealth of Everything and co-author of The Business Battlefield.  Whether advising his clients, mentoring his team, or coaching entrepreneurs, he is always simplifying complexity and motivating others to take the next action that’s right for them.

Learn more about The Coyle Process, approach designed to get your arms around the big picture, so you can make informed financial decisions. Ask Gary about The Coyle Process and schedule a complimentary consultation and start living the Good Life Managed Well™.

www.coylefinancial.com
847-441-5644 | coyle@coylefinancial.com

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