Effective strategies you can apply to substantially enhance focus & concentration. Power up your productivity. 

"Learning how to rein in your thoughts and focus is going to help you to achieve your goals in life. Without focus, you can never achieve anything.”

Eric Philips

If there is one thing, we could all use more of, it is the capacity to focus. But staying completely focused on a task, especially a monotonous one, is easier said than done.

The digital world we live in today is full of distractions. Notifications on our phones are constantly popping up. The advent of social media has created a new phenomenon of dopamine addicts. Because every 'like' or 'comment' on social media mimics actual positive human interaction and thus prompts the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) of our brains to release dopamine (the feel good hormone). It is obvious how this easy access to dopamine can have dire consequences. The brain is thrown into a dopamine-deficit condition as it attempts to adapt to the unnaturally high levels that social media causes.

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in sustaining concentration and attention. This explains why poor concentration and short attention spans are such common issues in modern society. The advantage of drastically improving your ability to concentrate on a task at hand is tremendous. Everyone is looking for that competitive edge to enhance their mind and learn the secrets of hyper-focus, which is why movies like “Limitless” are so popular. The potential of the human mind is boundless and there is so little we know about it.

Our team has summarised the following science-based hacks that you can implement to enhance focus and power up your productivity. Let's get started!

Set a daily task list

This is the simplest but often overlooked hack to enhance focus and increase productivity. Creating a daily task list that you adhere to declutters your mind, which is critical for focus and memory retention (11). Furthermore, your task list will be a consistent reminder of your priorities, which will help eliminate distractions. This allows you to tackle crucial tasks when your energy levels are highest.

Use a timer

This method is excellent for sustaining your concentration and preventing mental fatigue. It is called the “Pomodoro Technique”. It was crafted in the 1980s by student Francesco Cirillo (fun fact: “pomodoro” is Italian for tomato, supposedly due to the tomato shaped timer that Cirillo used). Here is how it works:

• Set a timer for 25 minutes, and then start working.
• When you hear the beep, take a 5-minute rest.
• Then, restart the timer and resume your task.
• After four rounds, you can take a break of 20 to 30 minutes.

Connect with nature

Have you experienced the calmness and serenity of walking in a park? You are not alone - nature affects our brains in beautiful ways. Research has shown that simply taking a short stroll in a park filled with nature can calm your mind and enhance focus (8).

The noise of urban living can negatively impact your ability to focus. Put aside some time to reset your mind by connecting with nature. Let it heal you and reap the amazing benefits.

Natural Healing

Being able to function at your best and stay productive all day is crucial especially in the hyper competitive society we live in. At the same time, it is easy to be overwhelmed with symptoms of burnout once fatigue starts creeping up.

This is where the power of natural healing comes in. Certain potent herbs have been used for centuries to enhance focus, reduce stress, and fight fatigue.

The following four ancient herbs are some of the most well-researched herbs to enhance focus:

• Rhodiola Rosea:

A potent medicinal herb that grows in the Arctic and mountainous areas of Europe and Asia. Traditional healers in Russia, Scandinavia and China have a long history of using Rhodiola Rosea to treat anxiety and fatigue. (3) .Multiple studies indicate that its benefits may include reducing stress and alleviating burnout symptoms & fatigue (4).

• Ginkgo Biloba:

An age-old tree species, this medicinal plant, native to China has been used by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for treatment of conditions such as dementia and stroke. Modern research show that this superfood may substantially enhance focus and relieve symptoms of stress (5).

• Bacopa Monnieri:

A powerful herb rooted in ancient wisdom — Bacopa monnieri, also known as Brahmi, has been used for centuries by traditional Ayurvedic healers to treat various conditions relating to mental health. Multiple studies demonstrate that regular supplementation can increase attention span, reduce anxiety, and sharpen memory (6).

• Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica):

A powerful herb native to the wetlands of Asia. Modern research has shown that Gotu Kola can reduce anxiety and aid in nerve protection & regeneration (7).

The numerous benefits of these herbs are well researched and documented. For a more detailed understanding, you may refer to Brain Focus Official White Paper 2022.

Natural supplements like BesaPure's Brain Focus are perfect for enhancing cognitive function to give you the clear focus you need to thrive daily. Even better, Brain Focus is 100% natural —no compromise. No synthetic vitamins or artificial ingredients. Purely a synergistic blend of nature's finest gems, carefully extracted for optimal concentration levels and ratios of bioactive compounds. You may read more about it here.

Improve Your Sleep

Quality sleep is essential for both your physical and psychological wellness. Research has shown that lack of sleep not only affects your daytime vigilance but has been linked to depression and anxiety (9). Lack of sleep can cause symptoms like chronic stress such as increased levels of cortisol and a raised heart rate

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that adults between the age of 18 and 64 require roughly 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Older people (65+) can get by with an hour less.

Meditation

Meditation is rooted in ancient wisdom; traditional healers have been using meditation therapy for centuries. Modern research has shown that brains of people who practice meditation regularly aged better than those who did not (2).

Meditation trains your brain to focus on one task at a time. Additionally, meditation teaches you to be in the present—letting go of all the “what ifs” and “what could have been” thoughts that constantly plagues our minds. This in turn clears our minds, reducing stress & anxiety.

A clear mind is key to enhance focus and achieve mental clarity.

Take breaks

This may seem contradictory but concentrating on a task for an extended amount of time could cause your focus to wane. Mental fatigue may build up faster, making it harder for you concentrate on the task at hand.

Recent studies have shown that our brains are wired to disregard continuous stimuli (1). Taking brief breaks by switching tasks or merely shifting your attention to something else could significantly enhance focus and productivity afterwards.

Eliminate distractions

The biggest source of external distractions in modern society is technology. Constant notifications make it hard to fully immersed yourself on your task. Thankfully, it now possible to mute all notifications on your mobile and laptop. This will significantly increase your productivity.

It is also crucial to be in the moment and identify your internal distractions; these are the common kinds of thoughts that your mind tend to stray to when you are trying to concentrate. For instance, you may notice that when at work you tend to consistently wonder if your cat has been scratching your sofa at home. It is imperative to recognize these thoughts as internal distractions so that you will be able to reset your focus when your mind starts to wander.

Mindfulness (Be in the moment)

“Wherever you are, be there totally.”

Eckhart Tolle

Mindfulness is being completely present in the current moment. This seems so simple but how many of us actually implement this in our lives? Being mindful means switching off your phone and being present in your child’s soccer game, not thinking about what happened at work or what may happen tomorrow.

A powerful tip is whenever you find your mind straying, start taking slow, deep breaths while feeling the sensation of every breath. Now imagine your mind coming back to you and direct your attention to the feeling under your feet and you will start to feel more grounded. Mindfulness helps to enhance focus by clearing your mind of anxious (10) .Like meditation, it trains your brain to concentrate on one thing at a time and ignore distractions.

Bottomline

Substantially improving your ability to concentrate and focus is not easy by any means and does not just happen in a day. Patience is key, great things take time. With proper nourishment and implementing these hacks to enhance focus, you will be able to master your brain and markedly improve your concentration capacity.